Residents of Diepsloot are calling on the government to build a public hospital in the area, citing life-threatening delays in accessing emergency tertiary healthcare. Many patients reportedly die while waiting for ambulances, as the nearest hospitals are located far from the densely populated township.
A Decade-Long Wait for Critical Surgery
Among those affected is Kedibone Sibiya, who has been waiting nearly ten years for reconstructive plastic surgery after suffering severe burns in a tragic 2017 accident.
“I was cooking with a primer stove, and then it exploded, setting my whole body on fire,” Sibiya recounted. With no immediate help available at the local clinic, a neighbor rushed her to a fire station, where she received basic first aid before being transported to a hospital—a process that took five hours.
Like many Diepsloot residents, Sibiya relies on South Africa’s overburdened public healthcare system. The area’s three primary healthcare centers—AA2, Tambo, and Diepsloot South—serve over 400,000 residents, including undocumented migrants, but lack the capacity for advanced medical treatment.
Long Journeys for Lifesaving Care
For specialized care, patients must travel nearly an hour to Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, a dangerous delay in emergencies. Community activists argue that a dedicated hospital for Diepsloot and surrounding areas—including Riverside View, Lion Park Informal Settlement, and Fourways—is long overdue.
“You can’t have a community as big as Diepsloot without a hospital,” said one activist. “A hospital would ensure quality healthcare, especially trauma care, and improve ambulance response times since all current hospitals are far away.”
Appeal for Government Intervention
Residents are pleading with authorities to address the healthcare crisis, emphasizing that preventable deaths will continue unless action is taken. Meanwhile, Good Samaritans willing to assist Kedibone Sibiya with her medical needs can contact the SABC for further details.
As Diepsloot’s population grows, the demand for accessible healthcare becomes more urgent, leaving many to wonder how many more lives will be lost before change arrives.