Royal standoff over 800m leaves clinic in limbo for 13 years

Public works MEC Babalo Madikizela has intervened to expedite construction of a Ngqeleni clinic — 13 years after it was first approved.

A bitter feud between two royal families over where the Cwele clinic should be built stalled the project.

Emchwebeni Traditional Council head Nkosi Zamdola Ndamase has been accused of blocking construction of the clinic, demanding that it be built in Cwele Junction.

On the other hand, Nkosi Letlaka Ndamase and AmaMpondo AseNyandeni King Ndamase Ndamase want it built at Tinarha because it is a “neutral location” for the villages of Cwele, Lusizini and Maqebevu.

The distance between Tinarha and Cwele Junction is only 800m.

On Wednesday  Madikizela intervened after an appeal by the St Barnabas-Hluleka Development Forum (SBHDF).

At a meeting in Libode Madikizela said: “The project was approved as early as 2007 and now it is 2020. We cannot have a situation where services could not be brought to the people and projects are prevented. It's my view that this clinic should be built where the king, as an arbitrator and supreme authority in the kingdom, suggested. The king has ruled that it should be built in Tinarha.”

Ndamase said the spat had gone on for years and the community had suffered as a result.

Madikizela said he had  instructed his officials to fast-track the appointment of a construction company so that work could start soon.

The SBHDF believes the clinic will bring much-needed  healthcare services to the area. The current facility — a mud rondavel — was named the worst clinic in the country in 2016 by the health department.

In 2017, Bhisho set aside R20m for construction of the new clinic.

Two weeks ago the SBHDF organised a meeting with Zamdola and Letlaka  in an effort to broker peace for the sake of the clinic. Zamdola declined to attend.

The others met the king last week and he maintained that Tinarha was still is the most suitable site.

Zamdola denied blocking the development, but said  the community had resolved that the clinic should be built in Cwele Junction.

“I know nothing about the MEC's meeting and subsequent resolution. I was not there,” said Zamdolo.

SBHDF chairperson Thembinkosi Gwaji said Madizela's engagement brought hope to the community.

“Our effort as the development forum is to see the clinic built and to create peace in our areas. We are not involved or interfering with issues of royal families, but their differences should not negatively affect development and block service delivery. We have high respect for our traditional leaders, Gcinintlanga and Vuliphiko as well as King Ndamase, hence we decide to assist,” Gwaji said.