In the small Free State town of Trompsburg, a new R380 million hospital continues to gather dust more than two years since its completion. Meanwhile, other clinics and hospitals in the region remain overstretched and under-resourced, according to health activist groups. Mariette Pittaway, the DA Spokesperson for Health in the Free State, says the new Albert Nzula Hospital is “state-of-the-art” and could “assist a lot of people in dire need,” but has become a “white elephant”. “There’s no medical staff, no medical equipment, no patients. Nothing is happening. The hospital was scheduled to open in October 2014, but soon the place is going to start falling apart,” she told GroundUp. An official opening ceremony was held at the Albert Nzula Hospital in September 2016, while controversial former MEC for Health Benny Malakoane had stated in March 2016 that the hospital would open in April 2016 (Malakoane was replaced by Butana Komphela in October 2016). Free State Premier Ace Magashule ha...

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