Hon Karabo Magagane conducted oversight visits at the Marthie du Plessis Sentrum Old Age Home, Phaphamang Old Age Home and Bloemhof Community Health Centre

On Thursday, 13 February 2025, the North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, led by Hon Karabo Magagane conducted oversight visits at the Marthie du Plessis Sentrum Old Age Home, Phaphamang Old Age Home and Bloemhof Community Health Centre as part of the oversight week programme that took place in the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district.

The oversight week programme started on the 11 -13 February 2025 with the aim of strengthening oversight and public participation as well as to promote accountability and transparency in government.
The committee was met with several challenges at the Marthie du Plessis Sentrum Old Age Home in Vryburg, which is an independent living institution for the elderly, that accommodates senior citizens who are capable of living on their own but may require minimal support services. Challenges found at the centre were that the Department of Social Development has not allocated funds to the centre for the current financial year and were not given any formal reasons for the delay. The centre only receives R97 845 per annum which is minimal to cover daily operations and basic essential needs of senior citizens.

The Chairperson of the committee resolved to write a formal letter to the Department of Social Development on Monday, 17 February 2025 to solicit reasons for the delay on funds, especially that the centre adhered to compliance requirements. The Committee will give feedback on resolutions taken based on response given by the department at the end of March 2025.

The committee proceeded to engage with senior citizens at Phaphamang Service Club for the elderly at Boitumelong township in Bloemhof. Amongst challenges found were that the service club is operates in a shack, that has no ventilation and shortage of space to allow for members to operate in it. Several letters were written to the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality since 2018 as well as the Department of Social Development requesting land site for the service club but no intervention was provided. The centre also lacks sporting kits and facilities as part of the daily activities which form part of the Golden Games tournaments for senior citizens.
The committee resolved to call in a meeting with the MEC, Mayor of Lekwa-Teemane and all relevant stakeholders to seek assistance in acquiring land site that has been disposed by the municipality for older persons and provide feedback in the next 3 months.

Bloemhof Community Health Centre
The committee lastly visited the Bloemhof Community Health Centre which is a medical facility located in Lekwa – Teemane sub-district in the Dr Ruth S Mompati district. It is a 24hour clinic and serves the population of about 130 – 170 on a dailyb basis.
The Chairperson considered the health centre unhabitable after observing challenges found at the CHC. Amongst challenges found were that there is shortage of staff, serious infrastructural challenges, with pumbling issues as the health centre has old pipes due to the old building structure, cracked walls, leaking roofs that still have rhino boards, and some areas still have asbestos which is a health hazard to both patients and nursing staff.

The Operational Manager, Margaret Matloahela requested amongst others Pharmacy Assistants posts at the CHC to allow nurses to work on patients’ needs instead of working at the pharmacies.
The Chairperson advised the Operational Manager to take accountability and responsibility for workers who fail to do their work after witnessing the uncleanliness of the health centre as well as ensure that all fire extinguishers have water in them to avoid having unfortunate incidents of fire outbreaks. The Committee will engage with the MEC for the Department of Health and other relevant stakeholders to seek further clarity and resolutions to issues raised.

Ends