This, as patients are now receiving health services outside the building, which was declared unsafe by inspectors from the Department of Labour. The department found after an inspection that the building - which leaks when it rains - is not suitable for use.

According to the information that was received on the ground, the building has been closed for three weeks and the staff and patients have been prohibited from entering the building while they remain without water and toilet facilities to use. It is reported that patients and nurses at the Mmabana Clinic now have to ask neighbouring houses to go to the toilet and to get some water to drink whilst at the clinic. 

OFM News witnessed patients who were queuing, waiting in the morning cold, to be assisted. 

The Public Service Association in the Free State's Lynsie Pelser says the Provincial Health Department has made mobile clinics available. 

Patients say that they have to wait hours to get assisted because the mobile clinics take hours to arrive. Patients allegedly attempted to attack nurses who have been desperately trying to assist them, given the circumstances at the clinic that remain in a chaotic state.

It’s reported that the building has been in some dire state for some time and the Department of Health was made aware of the situation at the clinic. The department, however, allegedly didn’t take any major steps to ensure that the situation of dilapidated infrastructure is taken care of.

In response, the Free State Department of Health said the Mmabana Clinic is under construction and the facility has never been closed. It is said that services are continuing with the Primary Health Care Mobile Services. 

"These mobile health services are onsite, whilst reconstruction is taking place. As we speak the contractor is on-site. The permanent structure is under reconstruction. This reconstruction took place due to bad weather (torrential rain), which delayed the completion of the reconstruction work that was underway and further caused structural damage.

"The intervention was to dispatch two mobile buses and one mobile clinic. These are used as consulting rooms and the carport as a waiting area.

"The community is constantly informed of the prevailing situation through media alerts sent by the spokesperson and by the Clinic Committee.

"There was never intervention by the Department of Employment and Labour. However, we are aware that some of our employees threatened and wanted the Department of Employment and Labour to close the facility, which we can’t afford to do. There is no contravention issued by Department of Employment and Labour that would warrant the closure of the facility for non-compliance," said Mondli Mvambi, Free State Health spokesperson. 

OFM News