Zuma promises R250m hospital
PRESIDENT'S PLEDGE: 'The new hospital will have new management, enough beds and doctors'
RESIDENTS of Nzhelele, near Louis Trichardt in Limpopo, were yesterday rewarded for complaining about the state of their hospital, Siloam, with President Jacob Zuma pledging to build them a new R250 million hospital.
Speaking at an imbizo in the area yesterday, Zuma said when his administration took office, it pledged to "do things differently".
He said after listening to the complaints of the people of Nzhelele, he realised it was not fair to renovate the hospital, and that it would only be better to build a new one.
The new hospital is to be built in two phases - with the first phase starting in the 2011-2012 financial year and the second phase in the 2012-2013 financial year.
He promised that the new hospital would not face the challenges currently being faced by Siloam.
"The new hospital will have new management, enough beds and doctors," Zuma said.
He said he was made to believe that there was enough space to build a new hospital while the old one was in operation.
Local traditional healer Mbulaheni Neluvhola, who is the chairperson of the Vhembe Traditional Healers Practitioners, said Siloam Hospital was not clean and that the service there was poor.
"The hospital is bushy and some patients get lost in the premises," said Neluvhola.
He said there were no theatre equipment and that when they went to the dispensary they found "expired drugs".
After the visit, Zuma proceeded to Lebowakgomo Hospital, where he was warmly received. He visited patients in several wards, accompanied by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Limpopo MEC for health Dikeledi Magadzi.
He then went to Lebowakgomo civic centre, where he listened to concerns by residents.
Bethuel Malepe from GaMphahlele said his file and X-ray documents, including his medical certificates, had disappeared from the hospital. He said he was suffering from asbestosis and could not be compensated because of the disappearance of the documents.
Other villagers pleaded with Zuma for clinics in their communities, saying they were ill-treated at Lebowakgomo Hospital because they came from "outside".
Zuma promised to attend to their concerns.

Comments
GiyaniBoy
there you go again Mr president, with empty promises.last you went to northern cape and promised each an every house hold to have at least person to be employed by the goverment. again you promised us more than 500 000 jobs creations.now you going to my province to fill them with your blue lies. plz dnt try us Mr president.I honestly dont blve a word from my president.except if he say he wants to get married again,again,again,again and again.Report Abuse
Methodman
10% Goes to some officials pocket (corruption) HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!Report Abuse
candilious
give this men a "BELLS" hahahahha who"s fooling who?@MorenaRabaki- Dont care what you say k'
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NDA
Sick & tired of you lies, i wonder if you have noticed Mr Pres no one respects lately.Report Abuse
svavava
empty promises again,Report Abuse
maditaba
Remember Brenda Fassie's song "I dont want promises, cos they turn to lies". The community of Vhembe are unhappy about the conditions of the current hospital due to management and they are promised a new hospital. Where is this new management going to come from if he can't sort out the current one?Bana ba Rantsho, ke eng na?
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MorenaRabaki
The President of the people,none other than "The Polygamist Charmer OldMan JZ"@ALL
Any1 who comments after me is an @$$hole!
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TAKALANI7
BUT I THINK IN THE MEAN TYM, SILOAM HOSPITAL SHOULD ALSO BE CLEANED. IF PATIENTS CAN GET LOST IN THE HOSPITAL, WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. I HOPE YOU ARE NOT LYING AS YOU ALWAYS DO. BRIAN MAKUYAReport Abuse
KUKU
Di maumau ke lena - id you see how Lebowakgomo my home looks. BEAUTIFUL AND WELCOMING. The hospital is very clean NOT this deaed end called Baragwana.Report Abuse
Cherokeexxx
The money will go to Malema. read the sunday papera after a couple of months.Report Abuse
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