Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio It is just another ordinary day at Philani Clinic in the Eastern Cape She is taken inside the clinic in a wheelchair They don’t seem to mind the camera and look uninterested when Spotlight approaches them One says that photographers come and go and none have helped solve their problems with the clinic Philani Clinic Committee chairperson Luyanda Nongemane tells Spotlight the clinic used to be a TB isolation hospital and was later converted into a clinic a small amenity consisting of a waiting area dentist room and administration area was built What concerned residents the most was how small the clinic was “This old structure was announced as an Ideal Clinic It is not even qualified to be a community health centre There is no X-ray [equipment] and maternity ward People who need those services need to go to Frontier Provincial Hospital but we have an Ideal Clinic according to our government.” In her 2021/22 budget speech Eastern Cape health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth said that by the end of the third quarter of 2020/21 “the current cumulative number of clinics that achieved Ideal Clinic status since the start of the Ideal Clinic programme in 2015 “In fact, we need a new building because this structure cannot be refurbished. There are cracks all over the consultation rooms and people who are visiting this clinic are forced to wait outside until it’s theadvertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads ir turn to be served.” This had been the case since before Covid-19 “The most concerning thing is the long grass that is not maintained We are on high alert as we fear the snakes We don’t have anything else besides this clinic that is offering limited services We were once promised several years ago that the clinic would be upgraded and would operate 24 hours a day since we don’t have anywhere to go at night.” When Spotlight visited, people were greeted by cracked walls, peeling paint and long grass. Nongemane says they receive many complaints when it rains, as water seeps through the cracks and causes damp.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads According to structural engineer Mahlatse Nkgoeng these mud structures were expected to last a lifetime It is not meant to last a lifetime without proper maintenance and strengthening of the structures so it is inevitable that it will fall apart.” However there were benefits to this construction method provided safety regulations were in place the materials are readily available and it is a great way of building if it is maintained properly.” For some residents of Illinge in the same district their clinic is “a blessing from God” and despite similar challenges but it is high time it gets some intervention Nurses are doing their best to give us the best treatment but our main concern is the size and standard of our clinic We are always praying that a storm must not hit our village Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane acknowledged the poor conditions at some healthcare facilities in the province former health MEC Sindiswa Gomba vowed that mud clinics would become a thing of the past in Chris Hani District where the Philani and Illinge clinics are located She promised that the provincial health department would deliver on the planned infrastructure projects in the 2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) While she acknowledged that dilapidated health facilities were a concern she said refurbishment would not happen overnight Meth said in her 2021/22 budget speech that due to limited financial resources the focus would be on maintaining infrastructure rather than taking on new building projects The Illinge and Philani clinics were among 60 community health facilities and clinics earmarked for replacements These “major alterations and additions” followed the Ideal Clinic guidelines and would begin in the 2023/24 financial year [which] the department identified and included in the Infrastructure Improvements Plans over the MTEF.” Dekeda said R1.4-billion had been budgeted for infrastructural improvement “the budget for maintenance is decentralised to the eight health districts together with their supply chain management units are responsible for employing service providers to cut grass” Dilapidated outbuildings with long grass at Komani Clinic the DA in the Eastern Cape says the health department is daydreaming when it says it will replace some mud clinics Provincial legislature member Jane Cowley says the fact that there are still mud clinics “is indicative of a department that is out of touch with the reality of people’s experience in the rural areas” “The fact that there are still mud clinics is an absolute travesty because you can see clearly that the infrastructure budget has been poorly managed There are so many clinics that could have been built with the infrastructure budget.” Cowley says infrastructure development has no place in the health department “The department of public works did a far better job than the department of health in building Covid-19 units during the first and second waves The 10-year user asset management plan by the department is a dream that won’t happen based on its financial situation “The department has already spent R5-billion of what they are going to get on 1 April (the beginning of the new financial year) so how are they going to allocate money for the building The department needs a huge spring-clean that goes as far as including the Special Investigating Unit to investigate exactly what is going on in infrastructure programmes in the department.” DM/MC This article was published by Spotlight – health journalism in the public interest ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " [optin-monster slug=”o1oltbelggnq0q5uohhx” followrules=”true”]On Thursday the 18th of May 2023 Daboniars Bizana along with Ahluma Funeral Services visited the old age home at Enyansweni ward 07 In their efforts of giving back to the community While Ahluma prepared the soup to complement the weather Whilst thanking her guests Nowongile Nondabula (the administrator of the home) showed us balls exercise and do some hand work as well at the facility They also had Beaded T-showers made by the old folks during their stay at the home [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We also would like to appreciate if someone else would assist with stationary as we also do the writing skills.” Pleads Nowongile[/perfectpullquote] This wasn’t the first time Daboniars taking care of elderly people as they were out at Mayaba  centre (Shoprite centre) on the 5th of May during the old age grant and website in this browser for the next time I comment Add me to your newsletter and keep me updated whenever you publish new blog posts Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 Pondoland Times. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy The Vosloorus SAPS and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) held a drug awareness campaign on August 24 Schools that participated in the event were Vosloorus Comprehensive School PT Xulu Secondary School and Tuto Lesedi Secondary School Each school participated in the three categories of public speaking learners indicated how dangerous drugs are and how they can make a person lose self-control One of the learners by the name of Khethiwe Selemelo of Masithwalisane Secondary School said during her speech that people can lose their life to drugs “We have lost great musicians like Brenda Fassie (South Africa) and Whitney Houston (USA) to drug overdoses,” said Selemelo who played the role of a schoolteacher in the drama said no one has self control when they are under the influence of drugs “Some people end up in jail because of rape-related cases and they always regret it once it is too late.” Stating the reason why they chose learners to be centre of the whole campaign stated that there is no one who would have done it better than learners “Learners understand the situation better that anyone Some of their brothers and sisters are addicted to drugs so they are best to be the centre of the campaign,” said Rossouw The schools that did the best received trophies There were also certificates awarded to all participants who made the event a success The trophies were awarded to the following schools: Vosloorus Comprehensive School: first place in all categories Masithwalisane Secondary School (Khethiwe Selemelo): public speaking Ilinge Secondary School (Mathapelo Kgasago): best poetry Masithwalisane Secondary School: second place in all categories “Our learners knew what they were talking about It is happening in their own community and to their loved ones,” said Nothando Jongizulu educator at Vosloorus Comprehensive School Another educator from Vosloorus Comprehensive School “This is because of the hard work put in by teachers working together and I am glad that it paid off I would like to thank our learners for being such good listeners We are very blessed to have learners like that Thanks to the support we received from the school management team.” Home | Politics Margaret Mathabatha passed away on Wednesday after a short illness She was the patron of the First Lady Trust since 2013 She started school in Vosloorus in 1968 and matriculated at Illinge High School She obtained a Bachelor of Primary Education degree at the University of Western Cape in 1990 She also obtained her Master’s Degree at Turfloop Graduate School in 2011 Mathabatha has taught at various schools before she joined the Office of the Premier as a deputy manager in 1999 She later moved to the Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism as a manager of service delivery improvement She became Limpopo’s first lady in 2013 when she returned with her husband from Ukraine She was also blessed with three children in her marriage with the premier says the family and relatives are heartbroken “It is with a painful heart to notify family relatives friends and the people of Limpopo about the passing of the wife of Premier Mathabatha Mma Mathabatha passed on this morning following a short illness The community’s requested to give Mathabatha family space to mourn their loved one and instead give them the much-needed support during this time of bereavement funeral arrangements will be made available once the family has concluded them.” The Premier’s office says Mathabatha will be remembered by the family friends and the people of Limpopo for her immense contribution towards socio-economic development of the disadvantaged people USimanye Sonkebe ngumfama omncinane eDutywa eMpuma Koloni onethemba lokuba ngumfama okwinqanaba loosomashishini ngenye imini Ifoto: Kubonelelwe/ NgabakwaFood For Mzansi Yathi iYunivesithi yaseFort Hare kusakuba kunyanzelekile ukuba ithi xhaa ngeeklasi ngenxa yemigaqo yokumiswa ngxi kweentshukumo zeKhovidi-19 kunyaka ophelileyo uSimanye Sonkebe esebenzisa uthuku lwemvelo wayesazi ukuba eli yayilithuba lokuqalisa ilinge lakhe lokuba ngumfama wayesenza unyaka wakhe wesibini njengomfundi wezenzululwazi kwikhampasi yeyunivesithi eseAlice Endaweni yokuba afike avilaphe nje ekhayeni lakhe eliseDutywa wenza imbinana yezigqibo ezinobukrelekrele bengqondo “Ndayiqonda ukuba asikazi kuba nako ukubuyela ngoko nangoko esikolweni ndaye ndakubona oko njengethuba lokuqalisa umsebenzi wokuba ngumfama nokuqhuba ishishini elilelam,” uSonkebe uxelela abakwaFood For Mzansi Wawuqalisa ngomdla umsebenzi wokuba ngumfama ngezithuba zangoJuni yaye nezilimo zakhe umfo lo zazikhula kakuhle kakhulu waye wafunda kalukhuni umsebenzi wokuba ngumfama: Izilimo zakhe zafa ngenxa yokunqongophala kwamanzi Oku kwamshiya ekhathazekile waza wathatha ikhefu kumsebenzi wokuba ngumfama ngeli xesha (kungekudala) amanzi ayefumaneka kodwa kwakunyanzeleke ukuba ndiye esikolweni yaye umama wayengakwazi ukukhathalela imifuno eyedwa umfama wenene wenza icebo waza ngoJulayi waqalisa ukuqwalasela  ekufuyeni iinkuku USonke uthi wakhetha ukuba ngumfama weenkuku zamaqanda kuba iinkuku ezifuyelwa ukosiwa nokuqandusela amaqanda zifuna ingqwalaselo enkulu Kuba kwakufuneka aphindele eyunivesithi wayengayiqondi ukuba unina wayeza kukwazi ukuzikhathalela Unina womphakathi lo uwuthanda kakhulu umsebenzi wokuba ngumfama yaye uSonkebe uyabulela ukuba ekwazile ukunceda ngamaxesha apho wayengenako ukwenza yonke imisebenzi yokuba ngumfama “Umama ndimthumela imali yokuthenga ukutya kweenkuku qho ngenyanga ndize ndithi xa ndiphinda ndibuyela ekhaya Nkqu nokuba uSonke ufundela ezobunzululwazi ngezilwanyana “Enyanisweni ndifuna ukuqhubela phambili ngomsebenzi wokuba ngumfama njengekhondo lomsebenzi osisigxina ndiya kufumana umsebenzi njengenzululwazi yezilwanyana ukwenza imali yaye nje ukuba ndibe ndiqokelele imali eyaneleyo ndiya kubuyela kumsebenzi wokuba ngumfama.” “Njengenkwenkwe esakhulayo ndandisoloko ndifuna ukuba ngugqirha wezilwanyana kuba ndandizithanda izilwanyana Ndandisoloko ndiyikhathalele intlalontle yazo yaye ndandisoko ndifuna ukuqonda ukuba ndandinokuyiphucula njani na impilo yazo Kwithuba leminyaka eli10 (elishumi) ukuya kweli15 (elishumi elinesihlanu) uSonkebe ufuna ukuba abe sele engumfama ongusomashishini yaye unethemba lokusebenzisa ukufunda ngamava okwenziweyo kwiminyaka eyadlulayo ukwenzela ukuba akhule abe mkhulu kunabo Umphakathi lo ujamelene nemingeni emininzi “Imbalela ibe ngowona mngeni mkhulu kakhulu Ukunqongophala kwezixhobo zokusebenza kananjalo kungumngeni kuba ekhaya ndinokusebenzisa iihektare zomhlaba kodwa andikwazi [ukwenjenjalo] kuba andinayo itrektara yaye neenkomo esinazo azinako ukulima mhlaba ngenxa yembalela Omnye umngeni kukuba andinako ukulinikela lonke ixesha lam kumsebenzi wokuba ngumfama kuba kufuneka ndihoye isikolo nto ke leyo eyenza ukuba izinto zibe nzima kakhulu Yaye ukufumana imalike elalini yam kunzima kananjalo kuba iilali ziqelelene yaye abantu kwakhona benza umsebenzi wokufuya iinkuku kunye nemifuno ubutshantliziyo nothando lomsebenzi wokuba ngumfama lumgcina eqhubela phambili Ndiyawuthanda umsebenzi wokuba ngumfama yaye ndaye ndayiqonda into yokuba nangona uninzi lwabantu bewenza bona umsebenzi wobufama kukho abo bangenzi msebenzi wokuba ngumfama abaya kufuna mna ukuba ndibathengisele isiveliso sam Okwesibini, ndikufutshane kakhulu edolophini ngoko ke ndingasithengisa isiveliso sam edolophini. Ngethamsanqa, ndikwanazo neeklayenti kumakhasi onxibelelwano oluntu endithengisa kuzo ngoko ke oko kugcina ishishini lam liqhubela phambili ” Icebiso lakhe kwamanye amafama asakhulayo kukuba bangacingi ngomsebenzi wokuba ngamafama njengecandelo “labantu abadala nabazizityebi” Kufuneka baqale kancinane bazondelele kuba umsebenzi wokuba ngumfama awukho lula Kufuneka kwakhona babe nako ukunxibelelana namanye amafama kuba xa bengenako ukunxibelelana bacele uncedo okanye ingcebiso kumafama anamava angaphezulu KWAKHONA FUNDA apha: R350 Covid-19 grant got mixed farmer back on her feet UBongani Motau ngumntu oqheleneyo nokuziphilela – enyanisweni eseneminyaka elishumi ubudala wayethengisa amashwamshwam koontanga bakhe Namhlanje uqalisa irestyu yaselokishini yakhe apho.. With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society Contact usOffice: +27 21 879 1824News: info@foodformzansi.co.zaAdvertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za Argentina (AP) — Argentina on Tuesday announced a sharp devaluation of its currency and cuts to energy and transportation subsidies as part of shock measures new President Javier Milei says are needed to deal with an economic emergency READ MORE: Argentina’s newly sworn-in President Milei warns of shock adjustment to economy Economy Minister Luis Caputo said in a televised message the Argentine peso will be devalued by 50% to 800 to the U.S we’re going to be worse than before,” Caputo said two days after the libertarian Milei was sworn in as president of the second largest economy in South America and immediately warned of tough measures Milei has said the country didn’t have time to consider other alternatives Argentina is suffering 143% annual inflation its currency has plunged and four in 10 Argentines are impoverished The nation has also a yawning fiscal deficit plus a daunting $45 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund with $10.6 billion due to the multilateral and private creditors by April Caputo said the government is canceling tenders of any public works projects and cutting some state jobs to reduce the size of the government He also announced cuts to energy and transportation subsidies without providing details or saying by how much and added that Milei’s administration is reducing the number of ministries from 18 to 9 He said the measures are necessary to cut the fiscal deficit he believes is the cause of the country’s economic problems we are inevitably heading toward hyperinflation,” Caputo said “Our mission is to avoid a catastrophe.” saying they provide “a good foundation” for further discussions with Argentina about its debt with the institution “These bold initial actions aim to significantly improve public finances in a manner that protects the most vulnerable in society and strengthen the foreign exchange regime,” said IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack in a statement “Their decisive implementation will help stabilize the economy and set the basis for more sustainable and private-sector led growth.” The major figures in the former Peronist government of Alberto Fernández didn’t comment on the measures announced Tuesday who is close to former center-left president Cristina Fernández (2007-2015) said that Caputo had announced “a social murder without flinching like a psychopath about to massacre his defenseless victims.” will get you half in the supermarket,” he said “Do you really think that people are not going to protest?” “There’s no money,” has been a common refrains in Milei’s speeches using it to explain why a gradualist approach to the situation is a non-starter But he has promised the adjustment will almost entirely affect the state rather than the private sector and that it represented the first step toward regaining prosperity rose to fame on television with profanity-laden tirades against what he called the political caste He parlayed his popularity into a congressional seat and then The overwhelming victory of the self-declared “anarcho-capitalist” in the August primaries sent shock waves through the political landscape and upended the race Argentines disillusioned with the economic status quo proved receptive to an outsider’s outlandish ideas to remedy their woes and transform the nation 19 second round decisively — and sent packing the Peronist political force that dominated Argentina for decades he is likely to encounter fierce opposition from the Peronist movement’s lawmakers and the unions it controls whose members have said they refuse to lose wages Milei pledged to purge the political establishment of corruption eliminate the Central Bank he has accused of printing money and fueling inflation and replace the rapidly depreciating peso with the U.S to be his economy minister and one of Caputo’s allies to helm the bank appearing to have put his much-touted plans for dollarization on hold Milei had cast himself as a willing warrior against the creep of global socialism that he has no intention to “persecute anyone or settle old vendettas,” and that any politician or union leader who wants to support his project will be “received with open arms.” His apparent moderation may stem from pragmatism given the scope of the immense challenge before him his political inexperience and need to sew up alliances with other parties to implement his agenda in Congress where his party is a distant third in number of seats held © 1996 - 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