NALEDI MODISE
BOKSBURG – A multimillion-Rand state-of-the art clinic is the latest facility to be named in honour of slain leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), Chris Hani.

The clinic in Villa Liza, Boksburg, east of Johannesburg has widened access to health care services to the largely impoverished community.

The City of Ekurhuleni has declared the month of April the Chris Hani month and uses the month to mobilize all sectors of society to observe the ideals of a remarkable leader whose life was cut short before the dawn of democracy.

One of these ideals, the Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mondli Gungubele, said are matters relating to housing, health and hunger.

“We therefore would not do justice to his honour if we were to gather in his grave without touching the lives of the people and that is the significant of the clinic,” said Gugubele.

The clinic is one of the 52 health care facilities using eHealth, an electronic health records system, which enabled patients’ health profile to be registered and accessible in health facilities anywhere in city.

“Out-of-ten clinics, four ideal clinics were from Ekurhuleni. This indicates that we take health very serious as articulated by Chris Hani,” the mayor said.

The opening of Villa Lisa Clinic brought jubilation to residents.

Residents from Villa Liza, Windmill Park, Wolf Informal Settlement and Rooikraal will benefit.

“This is a government that knows what its people want. We used to travel long and far to access healthcare but that is now a thing of the past,” said Mayena Sibiya (74).

Ekurhuleni is commemorating April as Hani Month.

About 300 houses will be handed over as part of the commemorations.

Hani was assassinated on April 10, 1993 outside his home in Dawn Park, Boksburg.

Some townships, hospitals, university residences and municipal districts around the country have been named after him.