Ngxekana, the Mthatha Ratepayers and Residents Association (MRRA) spokesperson, said he was disappointed that while the world was battling the pandemic, there were no testing kits in a public institution where people were supposed to get services freely.
“Not all of us can afford private institutions. I'm beyond 65 and I need to know for sure because we don't know who has this or not. Many people have died because of the government's lack of care. This is a serious problem. This is a huge disrespect. It's not a setback, it's carelessness. The government doesn't care about us,” he said.
Nomhle Sayama from Payne village said nurses were “folding arms” instead of attending to people.
She was in contact with a neighbour, a nurse with whom she shares a bathroom and a gate, who received his results on May 28 confirming he tested positive.
“He was upfront with us about his results and listed us [his neighbours] as his contacts. We waited until Tuesday for health officials to come to us for testing after we were promised so. I and my neighbour decided to go to Phelophepha on Wednesday. We were told to register our names and come back the following day. Nurses said they had 50 testing kits,” Sayama said.
On Thursday she returned and by midday she said no testing was done and people were impatient and demanded answers.
“Nurses said they were waiting for the kits."
Olwethu Titi was angry at the lack of explanation by the health staff.
"The department of health doesn't care about Covid-19 at all. We were only attended to because of a toyi-toyi we did,” he said.
A query was sent to Judy Ngoloyi, health MEC Sindiswa Gomba's spokesperson. She said she had sent the query to the department official for a response but it had not arrived by print deadline on Monday.
Phelophepha train disappoints Covid-fearing Mthatha crowds
Image: 123RF/ktsdesign
Throngs of people flocked for Covid-19 testing when the state-operated Phelophepha train arrived in Mthatha last week.
But many of those who gathered were turned away without the test, and have accused the Eastern Cape health department of not caring about them, given the daily increase in infections.
King Sabata Dalindyebo ward councillor Madyibi Ngxekana, concerned that his age and line of work put him in a high risk category, was among them.
Some had visited the train, stationed along the N2 near Ultra City, on Wednesday. They told DispatchLIVE only 50 people were allowed in.
But on Thursday the people queuing outside the train were told there were no testing kits.
“I left without getting the test done because I saw that nothing would happen. We were told there was no equipment [to perform the tests]," Ngxekana said.
Ngxekana, the Mthatha Ratepayers and Residents Association (MRRA) spokesperson, said he was disappointed that while the world was battling the pandemic, there were no testing kits in a public institution where people were supposed to get services freely.
“Not all of us can afford private institutions. I'm beyond 65 and I need to know for sure because we don't know who has this or not. Many people have died because of the government's lack of care. This is a serious problem. This is a huge disrespect. It's not a setback, it's carelessness. The government doesn't care about us,” he said.
Nomhle Sayama from Payne village said nurses were “folding arms” instead of attending to people.
She was in contact with a neighbour, a nurse with whom she shares a bathroom and a gate, who received his results on May 28 confirming he tested positive.
“He was upfront with us about his results and listed us [his neighbours] as his contacts. We waited until Tuesday for health officials to come to us for testing after we were promised so. I and my neighbour decided to go to Phelophepha on Wednesday. We were told to register our names and come back the following day. Nurses said they had 50 testing kits,” Sayama said.
On Thursday she returned and by midday she said no testing was done and people were impatient and demanded answers.
“Nurses said they were waiting for the kits."
Olwethu Titi was angry at the lack of explanation by the health staff.
"The department of health doesn't care about Covid-19 at all. We were only attended to because of a toyi-toyi we did,” he said.
A query was sent to Judy Ngoloyi, health MEC Sindiswa Gomba's spokesperson. She said she had sent the query to the department official for a response but it had not arrived by print deadline on Monday.
Covid-19 screening, testing on track thanks to Transnet health train
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