Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Letters to the editor >> 17 - 31 October 2003

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The editorial comment on page 4 of your 24 September to 10 October 2003 edition suggested that government is not spending money on capital projects. This is not true. I would advise you to ask all state departments and parastatals to provide the information on projects. An easier reference is the 2003 Intergovernmental Fiscal Review (see www.treasury.gov.za) which indicates that R18,6 billion will be spent on capital projects nationally in the 2003/2004 financial year. R871 million will be spent in the Free State alone. This is an indication of how government has prioritized infrastructure development to address social infrastructure backlogs and to contribute towards development.
I was pleased to note that two projects, namely the Public-Private-Partnership and the new Head Office for the Department of Health, were mentioned in the article. The correct context is that these two projects were conceptualised and initiated by the Free State Health Department. I hope this context will remove the myth that public servants are not entrepreneurial and innovative. In response to your question in the Editorial comment, please find below present capital projects undertaken by the Department of Health in the Free State in the 2003/4 financial year.

Clinic building and upgrading
The following new clinics are presently under construction or were completed this year:
• Mohokare Municipality: Smithfield clinic (R2 600 000)
• Mangaung Municipality: Botshabelo Block H3 (R1 985 000)
• Mangaung Municipality: Botshabelo Block L ( R1 985 000)
• Mangaung Municipality: Thaba Nchu clinic (R1 460 000)
• Mantsopa Municipality: Ladybrand clinic (R1 850 000)
• Tokologo Municipality: Boshof clinic (R3 178 000)
• Metsimaholo Municipality: Sasolburg Leitrim clinic (R1 875 000)
• Moqhaka Municipality: Steynsrus clinic (R2 125 000)

The following are existing clinics being upgraded:
• Mangaung Municipality: Bloemfontein Thusong clinic (R735 000)
• Mangaung Municipality: Botshabelo Block D clinic (R797 500)
• Metsimaholo Municipality: Oranjeville clinic (R817 500)
• Naledi Municipality: Wepener Qibing clinic (R1 545 000)
• Matjhabeng Municipality: Welkom Bophelong clinic (R1 100 000)
• Matjhabeng Municipality: Welkom Tshepong clinic (R1 005 000)
• Matjhabeng Municipality: Hennenman Phomolong clinic (R1 580 000)

The following clinic is in the planning phase and construction will commence in 2004: Masilonyana Municipality: Brandfort, replacement of Marantha clinic

The following expenditure will be incurred as indicated to address the 75 priority clinic and upgrading projects:
2004 /2005:R29 000 000
2005/2006:R20 000 000
2006/2007:R21 500 000
2007/2008:R24 000 000
2008/2009:R21 000 000

Hospital projects
The following capital hospital projects are presently underway or completed in the 2003/2004 financial year:
• Kroonstad: Boitumelo Hospital Revitalization (R31 million)
• Bloemfontein: Pelenomi Hospital Revitalization (R22,5 million)
• Kroonstad: Boitumelo Hospital upgrading (R5,317 million)
• QwaQwa: Elizabeth Ross Hospital (R8,269 million)
• Heilbron: Tokollo Hospital (R3,98 million)
• QwaQwa: Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Hospital (R10,058 million)
• Thaba Nchu: Dr JS Moroka Hospital (R5,36 million)
• Sasolburg: Metsimaholo Hospital (R5 million)
• Senekal: Itemoheng Hospital (R75 000)
• Dealesville: New Community Health Centre (R8 million)

Dr. V. Litlhakanyane
Head: Free State Dept. of Health
Bloemfontein