RULIV: Rural Visit and Sustainability.

TSOLO: ST Cuthbert's community had a visit from RULIV on 06-05-2010 - an indipendent institution that works together with the Eastern Cape Premier's Office, on rural development and sustainability. The visitors from RULIV were Sarhili Bashe, Thozamile Zondi and Toto Msaseni.

The meeting was held at Nkosi Bambela Mbabama- Ah!! Khabilanga's place in the afternoon.

According to Toto Msaseni, RULIV is not a financial/ funding institute, it only works with the community on the context of building, developing and improving the life standard of the rural areas - on how to eradicate poverty, reducing the rate of unemployment and provide skills development.

Msaseni continued by indicating that, RULIV works with people who already started the initiative such as projects - farming, pigery, poultry -etc, who are willing, interested and kin to develop themselves. RULIV provide them with advice and assistance that are vital to rural livelihood.

Dean Madala, who is a member of the ST Cuthbert's community highlited several attempts made by ST Cuthbert's that include Water Irrigation Schemes, Farming and Weaving during the former Transkei. Madala noted a lack of service delivery and co-operation from the curent government and municipality, to work hand in hand with the community to fullfil the vision, which resulted to their attempts to collapse due to lack of funds.

In addition, Nkosi Khabilanga, stated that the ST Cuthbert's community already have 1400 hectars of field, they are on ASGISA, have tractors, planted trees. Nkosi Khabilanga continues by saying that, ''As the community we need fencing to prevent livestock to the fields, ST Cuthbert's is also a tourist attraction site based on its Church - Mission which was established in 1882 and ST Lucy's Hospital by the missionaries, we also have caves and bushmen paintings'' said Khabilanga.

However, Nkosi Khabilanga signaled his disappointment from governments - provincial and national on the decission to down size or close the ST Lucy's Hospital since the is a newly established Dr Malizo Mpehle Memorial Hospital which was opened last year by MEC of Health Phumulo Masuale, at Tsolo Town 15 km from ST Lucy's Hospital.

Nkosi Khabilanga concluded his statement by saying that, '' Kudala abantu befika apha koMkhulu besenza izithembiso baphele emehlweni, singaze siphinde sibabone. Bazityebisa ngathi, ngako oko sidiniwe ngamaxoki''. He also highlited the empty promisess made by the minister of Public Works, Geoff Doidge last year as one of great disappoints.

In closure Msaseni said, '' the community should not depend to the government only for their development, people must stand up on their own and do things for themselves''.

Msaseni, also adviced the community, that when there is a person who made promises to them, they should sign a contract stating the promise, so that it can be an easy form to make a follow-up, in order to avoid empty promisess and victimisetion.

RULIV avail themselves to be utilized by the community in all levels for its development.

Olwethu Z. Mhaga.


ST LUCY'S HOSPITAL: the Struggle continues.

TSOLO: The protest action at ST LUCY'S HOSPITAL at Tsolo in the Eastern Cape continues.

The community of ST CUTHBERT'S gave the support to the fire brand traditional leader Nkosi Khabilanga Mbabama, who is completely against the closure of St Lucy's which is allocated at the area.

The angry protesters blocked the entrance at St Lucy's, they stoped the removal process of the equipment transported to the newly build Dr Malizo Mpehle Hospital about 15 km from St Lucy's.

According to Nkosi Mbabama '' the hospital management transporting the hospital equipment to Dr Mpehle Hospital using their own vehicles, which is an ellegal move on state owned resources''
Mbabama continued that ''we are going to fight for the survival of this hospital, we are fighting for what belongs to us. This hospital belong to kwisizwe sama Mpondomise and nothing will change'' said Mbabama.

The community secretary Bukiwe Sicholo, highlighted that the patients at St Lucy's had, had removed to Dr Malizo Mpehle hospital without the consultation and the views of the community.

At St Lucy's the Martenity and Theatre departments are closed and they sent to operate at Dr Malizo Mpehle.

''The hospital board at St Lucy's undermine the traditional leaders. The MEC of Health Phumulo Masualle also shows no respect to us as the traditional leaders in our nation''

''His (MEC) statement about opening the new hospital, without the co-operation, consaltation and blessing with the traditional leaders shows such disrespect'' said Mbabama.

Esisisizwe sama Mpondomise nayiphina into eyenzekayo kufuneka iiNkosi zaziswe ngendlela efanelekileyo kwisizwe sazo. Conclude Mbabama.

On sunday afternoon, at Nkosi Mbabama place, community got a visit from the officials from the department of health that include Mr Bezana - district, Mr Xhamlashe Mthatha complex and Mr Mthuzula - province to discuss about this matter.

This move by the hospital and the department came as the contradiction after the statement made by MEC Phumulo Masualle last week, as he promised that the St Lucy's Hospital will function in full course.
Olwethu Z. Mhaga.
 


ST LUCY'S HOSPITAL

MTHATHA: The community of ST Cuthbert's at Tsolo since the morning today gathered at the hospital gates (ST LUCY'S), where they were against the alleged closure of the ST LUCY'S hospital. While community gathered outside, inside the hospital some of the leaders that include the community leader uNkosi Bambelela Mbabama held a meeting with the hostipal management to discuss about this matter. ''As community of ST Cuthbert's we oppossed any proposal that promotes the closure of this hospital (ST LUCY'S)'' said Mbabama. The alligations about the closure came the underspotlight since there is a newly build hospital at Tsolo Town.
Mbabama also outlined that ''This hospital was build by our great and grand parents to provide health to our rural communities''. Mbabama indicated that they wrote a letter adressed to the provincial MEC about this matter, but they received no responce yet, but are still waiting for the province to respond.
The community was very angry from these allegations. The tensions between the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the ST Cuthbert's community were resolved by the arrival of the officials from the provincial health department at the Imbizo held at Mbabama's place in the afternoon, they include Mrs Macingwane chief director, Mrs Nyikane director (provincial), District manager Mr Bezane and Mr Buhlungu from the district. According to the chief director Mrs Macingwane the hospital will function in full course. She stated that the newly build hospital already employed 114 employers indicated that the employees, are not going to be removed from the ST Lucy's as the community feared. Macingwane said the new Tsolo hospital which is 28 Km from ST Lucy's supposed to be open in June but the delays caused by the lack of the equipment which waited for. The community task team which will be responsible to observe the promices from the department was formed. Macingwane concluded by promising the angry community that they will receive the responce on their letters soon. Olwethu Z. Mhaga.