Residents of Khutsong in Gauteng’s Merafong Municipality are urging authorities to fast-track the completion of the Khutsong clinic, a major health facility that was commissioned in 2015 but remains unfinished and closed in 2026.
More than 40 million rand has already been spent on the project, with total costs now projected to exceed 90 million rand. The prolonged delays have forced surrounding communities to rely on overcrowded existing clinics, severely limiting access to essential healthcare services.
Health activist Mr. Paseka Mtini, who has closely monitored the project’s progress, expressed deep community frustration over the years of inaction. “We’ve tried to engage different departments including officials and the provincial legislature. We’ve submitted petitions trying to find clarity regarding the delay,” he said. A petition submitted last year was adopted by the legislature, yet no clear responses or resolutions have followed.
Mr. Mtini highlighted repeated engagements with officials. He spoke to the chairperson of the Gauteng provincial legislature, Ezra Letsoalo, who indicated that further action was pending the start of the new financial year on April 1. During a visit in November 2025, then MEC Nomantu Ralehoko stated that construction would begin in January 2026. However, as of April 2026, no work has commenced.
The Kong clinic is intended to serve as one of the largest facilities in the Merafong area, catering to Khutsong and surrounding sections. Without it, residents must travel approximately one hour on foot to access equivalent services at another local clinic in the Kong area. Those needing urgent care face a 10-minute drive to a smaller clinic with limited capacity, fewer beds, and reduced services.
The project has faced significant setbacks. An earlier contractor appointed around 2017 abandoned the site, prompting the Gauteng Department of Health and the Department of Infrastructure Development to seek a new service provider. A revised contract was expected to see the facility completed by 2026, but that timeline has now slipped further.
Community members and activists continue to press for answers on when construction will resume and services can finally be delivered to address the healthcare needs of the area. No updated timelines from the relevant departments were available at the time of reporting.