A clinic has been set on fire by people pretending to be protesters in the Zenzele informal settlement, Randfontein on the West Rand, the Gauteng health department said on Tuesday.
The clinic with four consulting rooms services was torched on Monday, said spokesman Simon Zwane.
The facility which is in Ward 12 reached more than 1300 patients per month.
“The clinic was housed in four containers of which three of these have been burnt down completely by criminals masquerading as service delivery protesters.” Medication, patients’ files and equipment including a computer were damaged.
Zwane said the staff would be temporarily allocated to different facilities within Randfontein.
Community members were urged to use other nearby clinics.
Gauteng health MEC Hope Papo condemned the burning of the clinic.
“We cannot allow a situation where the lives of the sick are endangered and essential services such as medical care are disrupted as the result of such a criminal acts.” Papo called on the community to expose those responsible so they would face the consequences for their actions.
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