PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CALLS FOR IMPROVED HEALTHCARE ACCESS IN RETVLEI AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT FOR TLHOKOMELO HBC

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, led by Chairperson Hon. Karabo Tebogo Magagane and accompanied by Committee Member Hon. Rosina Komane, has called for improved healthcare services in Retvlei and sustained support for Tlhokomelo Home-Based Care (HBC) Centre in Groot Marico, following an oversight visit on 9 October 2026. The Committee expressed concern over the absence of a permanent healthcare facility in Retvlei, a rural community of approximately 3,000 residents within Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality. Residents currently depend on a mobile clinic that visits once a month. Of particular concern was the use of a local tavern as a service point for the mobile clinic, which the Committee described as inappropriate, particularly for children and vulnerable patients. The Committee urged the Department of Health to urgently identify a safer, suitable location for mobile healthcare services while assessing the feasibility of establishing a permanent healthcare facility to serve Retvlei and neighbouring communities, including Maak-n-Draai farm. The Committee also raised concerns about conditions at a local Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, including inadequate infrastructure, poor sanitation, limited space and insufficient learning materials. It recommended coordinated intervention involving the Departments of Social Development and Education to address these shortcomings and ensure a safe learning environment for children. Meanwhile, the Committee commended Tlhokomelo HBC for its outstanding contribution to vulnerable communities through nutritious meals, social services, accredited skills development programmes and early childhood support. The Committee particularly welcomed the centre’s men’s lounge, which provides a supportive environment for men to engage on social challenges, including Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. However, the Committee urged the Department of Social Development to sustain its support for the centre and urgently address infrastructure defects, particularly broken toilets, to safeguard service delivery. The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening oversight and ensuring that rural communities receive accessible healthcare and quality social development services.