An anonymous elderly resident of the Helenvale community in Gqeberha’s Northern Areas recently raised serious concerns about conditions and treatment at the local clinic.
Despite being a diabetic patient requiring regular medical attention, she claimed to have been turned away multiple times due to staff shortages, with no assistance provided.
Speaking about her experience, she expressed frustration not only with inadequate service but also with the head nurse’s reportedly rude and unprofessional behaviour. “There are many issues at the clinic; shortage of staff, no toilets or running water, and quite frankly, the sister in charge must go. She is causing a lot of drama for many sick community members, instead of helping. Only three nurses are managing everyone, and even security guards end up helping in the clinic,” she revealed.
The resident described long queues of sick individuals – many of them chronic patients – waiting all day, only to be told to return another day. “People plan their clinic visitation days, they wake up at 03:00 and leave their homes when it’s still very dark to join the already long lines. It’s completely unfair that even after all that, they go back home without getting any assistance. The community deserves better. The clinic must inform the committee of any changes, and not just act as they please,” she added.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, responded to the issues raised, calling such reports “unfortunate” and reiterating that government policy insists on prioritising patients’ needs under the Batho Pele principles. “Government officials are expected to put people first,” Kupelo said. “Our policy does not allow patients to be sent away without receiving help.”
The department noted that all clinics are equipped with complaint and suggestion boxes for residents to voice concerns, alongside clinic committees tasked with representing community interests. “These committees are required to report to the MEC’s office via the district manager. We investigate every complaint received to establish facts and implement remedial action where necessary,” Kupelo assured, calling on residents to utilise existing channels to address grievances.
