The community of Temba in Hamanskraal can breathe a sigh of relief, as the Temba Community Health Centre (Temba CHC) has resumed full operations effective Monday, 28 April, following a temporary closure due to burst sewer pipes and blocked toilets.
The facility, which provides critical primary healthcare services including chronic medication collection, HIV and TB treatment, as well as general consultations, was forced to shut its doors for over a week earlier in April. The sewer infrastructure failure reportedly created unhygienic conditions, rendering the facility unsafe for both staff and patients. This disruption left many patients, particularly the elderly and those living with chronic conditions, struggling to access care at alternative facilities.
The Acting Assistant Manager at Temba CHC, Phethutshedzo Musweswe, issued a statement confirming the clinic’s reopening. “The clinic is fully functioning, and we are providing all the services we used to provide, chronic care, curative care, antenatal services and immunisation,” she said, outlining the services that have resumed.
The toilets and sewer systems have since been unblocked and repaired, with additional cleaning and sanitation measures implemented to ensure a safe and hygienic environment for both staff and patients. The community of Temba can now once again collect their medication and access the full range of services at the clinic.
Ms Musweswe also apologised to patients for the inconvenience caused during the closure. “I would like to thank the community for the support and perseverance throughout this incident, and I would also like to apologise for any inconvenience that we have caused you as our community,” she added.
Many residents are relieved that their local clinic has reopened. Chronic patients who had been redirected to distant facilities and forced to travel long distances, often without reliable transportation, can now access care closer to home. Normal operating hours have resumed, and the Acting Assistant Manager said staff are working hard 24 hours a day to make up for lost time and to restore the community’s confidence in the clinic.
This incident also highlights the ongoing need for infrastructure maintenance in the region and across other parts of the City of Tshwane.
Patients are encouraged to return to Temba Clinic for their regular services and to collect their medication.
