Residents of Kabe Village, near Mahikeng, are facing severe challenges in accessing healthcare due to the absence of a local clinic, forcing elderly and chronically ill patients to walk long distances or pay exorbitant transport fees.
Elderly villagers, some dependent on chronic medication, say the lack of medical facilities is worsening their health conditions. “We are very sick. We are now walking to a clinic in Daning village, and it is very far,” one resident said. “Here in Kabe Village, there is no clinic. Sometimes we hire cars, and they cost us about R500, but even buses are no longer available.”
Stalled Clinic Project Due to Communication Breakdown
A clinic was supposed to be built in the area, with a contractor appointed in October last year. However, the project has stalled due to a communication breakdown between the contractor and community leaders.
A Community Liaison Officer (CLO) involved in the project expressed frustration, stating, “There’s no communication between us and the contractor. Everything is at a standstill. If there was communication, we would know what halted this project, but we don’t know anything.”
The local councilor has sought intervention, but efforts have so far been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, officials from the Department of Health have assured residents that there is “no crisis” and that funds are available for the project to resume.
Land Issues Further Delay Construction
The North West Department of Health has cited the unsuitable nature of the initially marked land as a key reason for delays. “The land was too sandy and not suitable for construction,” a department representative said.
Despite this, the department claims that structural engineers have developed a reinforced design to proceed with building a “park home” clinic on the same site. However, residents continue to suffer in the meantime, with many forced to travel nearly 10 kilometers to access medical care.
“It’s very, very painful for the community because the majority are unemployed—90% don’t have jobs,” a community representative lamented.
As delays persist, the people of Kabe Village remain in desperate need of healthcare solutions, with no clear timeline for when the promised clinic will become a reality.
