26 Mar 2025

Government has spent over P3 million in the refurbishment of Mmopane clinic between May and September 2020. Responding to a Parliamentary question on Monday, the Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse said the refurbishment included reroofing of the building, extension of the waiting and consultation areas, installation of water back up tanks, external paving, erection of new parameter fence and construction of the guard house. Mr Ookeditse said government was aware that some maintenance work needed to be done on the staff houses and the old building, which was used as makeshift clinic during the refurbishment of the main building. He said funds permitting, maintenance of these buildings would be considered in the next financial year. Mr Ookeditse also said he was aware that his ministry had hired temporary pharmacy personnel at different facilities across the country. He said the temporary employees had been contracted to alleviate the shortage of pharmacy personnel, noting that pharmacy personnel had not been employed on a permanent basis due to unavailability of vacant posts. Mr Ookeditse said they were working with DPSM to find a sustainable solution to the issue. MmopaneMetsimotlhabe MP, Ms Helen Manyeneng had asked the minister if he was aware that Mmopane clinic needed complete refurbishment as the building was old, including additional staff and that pharmacy technicians were employed on a temporary basis, which led to a problem when such employees’ contracts were awaiting renewal. Ms Manyeneng also asked the minister why such employees were not employed permanently. ENDS