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New lease on life for hospital Marti Will
mwill@volksblad.com
The Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital, once touted as the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere, has been saved. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) has sold the complex to RH Capital Managers, who will continue to provide much-needed medical services. The handover function held today at the hospital was attended by Nkosinjani Speelman, executive mayor of Matjhabeng, Dr Nkateko Munisi, chairman of RH Capital Managers, and Peter Steenkamp, chief executive officer of Harmony. The conclusion of this transaction that the hospital will remain open for years to come and continue to serve the needs of the communities of Matjhabeng and the surrounding areas. Steenkamp said the hospital, an outstanding healthcare facility, has served the mining industry in the Free State and broader communities for well over half a century. “I am sure that it will continue to do so for another half century or more. We at Harmony are particularly proud of the part we have been privileged to play in the hospital’s development. “We are confident that in transferring ownership and management to RH Capital Managers, who are well placed to operate a medical facility, the people of Matjhabeng and its surroundings will continue to be served.” Munisi said his group is honoured to now be responsible for this renowned hospital. “We are committed to maintaining the high standards of healthcare the hospital is known for and to serving the people in the communities in and around Matjhabeng.”
Donderdag 17 November 2016
www.vistanews.co.za
Gratis
Beacon under fire
) Civic Centre’s copper doors removed
) Eviction notice served for Clock Tower
Marti Will mwill@volksblad.com
A furore has erupted around the removal of the solid copper doors from the Civic Centre in Welkom. Added to this is an eviction notice received by the Matjhabeng Publicity Association to vacate the Clock Tower by the end of the month. It is believed that the notice was delivered by hand on Wednesday, 9 November. No reason for the eviction was given. The Matjhabeng Publicity Association (MPA) has occupied the tower, undisturbed, for nearly 30 years. This beacon in the centre of Welkom forms a pivotal part of the Civic Centre design and is an acknowledged tourist destination. The staff of the MPA have managed and directed tourism from the tower over the years. Welkom is the youngest town and city in South Africa. It was virtually designed from scratch to have the most modern city design in South Africa, with its traffic circles and open parklands. Welkom was proclaimed a city on 14 February 1968, after 21 years of existence, and the city status was celebrated by the opening of the Civic Centre on the same day. Welkom was proclaimed an official township on 15 April 1947 and became a municipality in 1961. The construction of the Civic Centre commenced in 1964, after two prominenent South African architects, F.L. Sturrock and Jack Barnett, won a national competition to design this majestic complex. The copper features (which included the roofs and the doors) were incorporated into the design. In the original design of the Civic Centre, leeway was made for patina which would eventually cover the copper embellishments of the centre, mellowing the doors and the roof to
The copper doors at the Matjhabeng Civic Centre, with bevelled glass inserts, are being removed by contractors and replaced with aluminium doors. Photo: Supplied
an attractive dark brown colour, shot through with green, thus enlivening the contrast between the roof, doors and the brick walls. Over time, this would create a unique landmark in Welkom’s city centre. Even the solid yellow wood panels in the Ferdie Meyer Hall have been painted over with a thick orange varnish. When Vista went to the Welkom Library last week to find proof of the city status of Welkom, we were met by a desecrated and virtually nonexistent Welkom Museum. This visit followed a dispute on Facebook as to the legitimacy of
Welkom’s city status claim. Vista made an official media enquiry to Mothusi Lepheana (municipal manager), Nkosinjani Speelman (the executive mayor of Matjhabeng) and Kgojane Matutle (spokesperson for the municipality), but to no avail. Vista also enquired as to why the MPA was being evicted from the Clock Tower, who took the decision to strip the copper doors from the Civic Centre and also about what is to be done with the valuable copper and bevelled glass doors after they were removed. At the time of going to press, Vista’s media enquiry had not been acknowledged or replied to.
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