The departmental spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, tells OFM News that the delay came after a service provider failed to deliver on promises to the department that all minor issues will be dealt with within a week or two. These issues were never dealt with until today. He says, as a result, his contract was terminated and a forensic investigation was instituted against the service provider. OFM News previously reported that the R130 million centre has been completed following eight years of construction. Lekgethwane says the department is aware of the community’s unhappiness.

OFM News previously reported that the department assured residents the centre will be handed over in April 2019 by both the royal council and Health MEC, Madoda Sambatha. This after Sambatha visited the area to meet with the local royal council and the community to consult on a suitable date and name for the centre. Sambatha had previously lambasted what he called the snail's pace at which construction of the centre was proceeding, following unrest from the community about the lack of access to healthcare centres in that area.

OFM News