Die Goudveld se keuse sedert
1971
Restaurant
since
The Goldfields' Choice Wenner van die ATKV-mediaveertjie 2012 vir beste streekkoerant in Suid-Afrika TEL (057) 357 1304
DONDERDAG 9 MEI 2013
Accommodation
TEL: 057 352 5430/9 OR 084 503 7648, DAGBREEK WELKOM
Mothersday Buffet - 12 May R89,50 Adults u/10 - R20
Wednesday - Chinese Buffet
- R49-95 Sunday Buffet Adults Children u/10 - R20.00 WWW.VISTANEWS.CO.ZA
GRATIS
Waste not, want not Lights at derelict hospital stay on Refilwe Mochoari THE Matjhabeng Municipality owes R145 million on electricity. Some consumers pay over R2000 per month, but government is wasting millions worth of electricity on the useless old building which was formerly used as the Welkom Provincial Hospital and nurses home. Abandoned, filthy and derelict for over 15 years now, the buildings situated inside the Kopano Complex have shattered windows and patient files and identi-
ty documents are laying all over the floor, but the electricity seems to be working just fine. The complex has a history of alleged satanic occult activity occurring in the old hospital building. At one stage there were also vagrants occupying the building. It has also come to the attention of Vista, and many concerned residents of Matjhabeng, that the lights of the abandoned building, which includes the old nurses home, burn 24 hours a day. Some of the components of the complex are used as offices of go-
vernment and non-governmental organisations. Employees say they do not feel safe working in the complex, as it is creepy. They too are curious as to why the lights of the old hospital building and nurses home are switched on throughout the day and night. One worker described the old hospital building as a death trap. On the day Vista visited the building, electricity cables had been stolen over the weekend and the whole complex did not have electricity. Nick Hagemeier, a resident of
Welkom, is one of the many concerned people who complained to Vista about the electricity wasted in the building. He said, “We are all trying to save power and minimise our consumption, but can anyone please tell me why the local old hospital and nurses home’s lights are on all day and night?” Nthabeleng Maswabi, another concerned resident, said she pays about R1 500 per month on electricity at her home. “I always see the lights of the hospital on and I always wonder why they are on, because it is a total waste of electricity. I know my bill is going to increase now, because we are in the winter,” she said.
Piet Botha, DA councillor, is also concerned about this issue. “It is a waste of good money. The electricity at that building is being paid for, rather than the money being used to help those in need. It is a disgrace, because the place has been vacant for many years now,” he said. When approached, the Department of Public Works in the province ignored to answer whether electricity for the building is being paid for and if so, how much is paid to settle the bill. Winkie Direko, spokesperson for the department, said, “The Kopano Complex is not abandoned, as it is currently the new district office of the Department of Education. “The nurses home was recently converted to into offices and the building is still under renovation. The contractor works overnight as they have to meet the deadline and the plan is to have other departments accommodated there at the building,” Direko said.
PATIENT files in the passages of the hospital.
THE entrance to the hospital building.
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