The City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Councillor Jolidee Matongo, on Tuesday, 14 September 2021, officially opened a renovated state-of-the-art 4th Avenue Clinic in Alexandra.

This was alongside the launch of the Alexandra Safe Hub – a multi-sporting code facility located just metres away from the clinic.

The opening of the extended and renovated 4th Avenue Clinic, which is valued at R35 million, comes as a direct response to the Alexandra residents’ expressed concerns about the old health facility having been small with only six consulting rooms servicing the demands of the growing township.

Speaking at the official opening flanked by the City’s leadership, Mayor Matongo indicated that the newly opened 4th Avenue Clinic now boosted 18 large consultation rooms - with designated sections for mother and child, chronic and acute, as well as emergency and administration wings. 

“The clinic was built in accordance with the national core standards for new health facilities, and the City ensured that it is compliant with the national Department of Health’s ideal clinic standards,” he said. 

The clinic reopened its doors for operation in April last year to be able to provide primary healthcare services amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and increased public service demands.

Mayor Matongo said: “This was a decision taken to ensure that the residents of Alexandra accessed the much-needed primary healthcare services.”

“The opening of the 4th Avenue Clinic serves is a demonstration of the fact that many years of underinvestment in poor communities are being reversed and more clinics and hospitals are either being fully renovated or new ones are being built,” he said.

Mayor Matongo also expressed gratitude to the 4th Avenue Clinic’s healthcare workers for their commitment to serve the Alexandra community and surrounding areas during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The importance of your work to the development of our City is immeasurable and we want you to know that you are greatly appreciated,” he added.

The Mayor further pointed out that the City was “acutely aware that a clinic cannot be an island of progress in a sea of decay”. 

 “That is why, as the City’s leadership, we have been out on the streets of Johannesburg as part of the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme to conduct oversight and ensure that service and developmental commitments made to communities are fulfilled,” Mayor Matongo said before proceeding to launch the Alexandra Safe Hub.

The facility is a result of a partnership between the City and the non-governmental organisation, Amandla EduFootball and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. It is designed to function as a multi-purpose centre underpinned by sport, together with educational, health and enterprise development programmes.

Mayor Matongo said: “The Alexandra Safe Hub also has a 40-seater youth centre that includes office space, workshop rooms and a youth café.”

“The facility provides a viable and attractive alternative to the community of Alexandra and surrounding areas, especially the youth, to take up positive developmental activities,” Mayor Matongo said.

The launch of the Alexandra Safe Hub, which followed strict Covid-19 safety protocols, was attended by a few community members, local and provincial leaders, as well as partner representatives, who included South Africa’s soccer legend, Lucas Radebe.

Issued by the City of Johannesburg