The GOOD Party has sharply criticised the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led Western Cape government for failing to rebuild the GF Jooste Hospital in Manenberg, accusing it of neglecting poor and predominantly black communities on the Cape Flats.
On Monday, GOOD Secretary-General and Western Cape Member of Parliament Brett Herron said the DA had failed to honour a promise made more than a decade ago to replace the facility. He pointed out that in 2012, then Western Cape Health MEC Theuns Botha committed to rebuilding the hospital between 2013 and 2016. However, 13 years later, Herron said “not a single brick has been laid.”
The GF Jooste Hospital, once a critical trauma facility serving high-crime areas across the Cape Flats, was decommissioned with the promise of a modern replacement. Instead, residents have been left without a nearby specialised hospital, placing additional strain on surrounding health facilities and emergency services.
Herron described the delay as part of a broader pattern of what he called “promises-on-repeat” by the DA, particularly in working-class communities. He said the provincial government has repeatedly announced infrastructure projects without meaningful progress on the ground, citing housing developments in Cape Town’s inner city as another example.
The criticism also extends to the handling of project finances. Herron noted that the cost of decommissioning the hospital ballooned to nearly R20 million, with approximately R15 million spent on security alone due to delays and poor planning. The demolition itself, he said, cost under R2 million, raising concerns about wasteful expenditure.
In response to parliamentary questions, Western Cape Health MEC Mireille Wenger reportedly failed to provide a clear timeline for construction. While progress had been made in planning phases, Wenger indicated that construction would only begin in a future phase, subject to funding and approvals.
Herron argued that this lack of certainty sends a bleak message to residents who have waited more than a decade for improved healthcare services. “The clear message to long-suffering Cape Flats residents is: don’t hold your breath,” he said.
The DA, South Africa’s official opposition party and governing party in the Western Cape, has often campaigned on its record of clean governance and strong audit outcomes. While these financial controls are widely regarded as a strength, critics argue they do not always translate into equitable service delivery, particularly in historically disadvantaged communities.
Political analysts and opposition parties, including GOOD, have at times accused the DA of failing to adequately address the needs of black and working-class residents, especially in areas such as housing, healthcare, and basic infrastructure. The delays at GF Jooste Hospital have become a symbol of these concerns.
Herron said the decision to demolish the hospital before securing a replacement facility was deeply flawed. He warned that the absence of the hospital could stretch close to two decades, leaving vulnerable communities without essential services.
As South Africa approaches another election cycle, Herron suggested that residents may once again be presented with renewed promises rather than completed projects, questioning whether the DA will finally deliver on its long-standing commitment.
