Cosmos City’s community call for better healthcare is heard
A permanent 24-hour Community Health Centre in Cosmo City is not in conflict with govt’s priorities
Faith Mazibuko, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, acknowledges the residents' demands for a permanent health facility in Cosmo City. The department commends the advocates for their role in bringing community needs to the government's attention. However, the MEC emphasizes that public advocacy should be based on accurate information and a clear understanding of the roles of various government institutions.
The proposed Cosmo City 24-hour Community Health Centre is part of the Department's planning process, but a construction date cannot be announced until necessary processes like land acquisition, infrastructure planning, funding, and procurement are completed. The current Cosmo City clinic operates from a park home structure with six consulting rooms, not a mobile clinic as stated earlier.
It provides primary healthcare services, referring patients to OR Tambo Community Health Centre or Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital for additional or urgent care.
Contrary to claims in the article, the population of Cosmo City is 59,845 according to the Department's planning data, not over 1.5 million. The headcount of 59,636 is from the District Health Information System for the 2025/26 financial year and should not be confused with the population figure.
The Infrastructure Management Directorate of the Department is responsible for coordinating health infrastructure requirements. It assesses needs, develops a business case, identifies suitable land, and coordinates planning with provincial and municipal institutions. A site at Erf 9009 on South Africa Drive, near the Cosmo City Fire Station, has been identified for the facility, but the land donation and related processes are still pending.
The Department acknowledges the frustration of residents and is actively working to secure the necessary municipal approvals. Additionally, the Gauteng Provincial Government has increased its mobile clinic fleet to 53 units, a 15% boost, with 15 clinics dedicated to the West Rand.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
