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The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development, Cllr Ashley Sauls I and the MMC for Development Planning, Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku, on Monday, 13 June, conducted an oversight tour of Orchards Clinic, a new state-of-the-art primary healthcare facility. 

The Orchards Clinic is now at practical completion. The Johannesburg Development Agency was the implementing agent to deliver this unprecedented primary healthcare facility to provide services in Norwood, Orchards and surrounding areas.  

The facility is on Louis Botha Avenue and constructed in line with National Health Core Standards and National Health Insurance (NHI) requirements. 

The Orchards Clinic is part of the Joburg 2040 Growth and Development Strategy (GDS). The City of Johannesburg aims to provide primary healthcare facilities in identified areas and produce a high-quality health environment.

There are 20 consulting rooms, emergency rooms, antenatal, ARV and TB service facilities, a courtyard, office space and a parking area for staff and patients. 

The building also incorporates environmentally friendly features allowing for rainwater harvesting, solar heating, ventilation, and a vegetable garden.

MMC for Health and Social Development Cllr Ashley Sauls I described it as a “beautiful facility.” He was delighted to see stakeholders who were part of the construction from start to end.  

“Our stakeholders are committing to overcome the challenges experienced when implementing this clinic. We will look deeper into these issues. Then execute future clinics with military precision, link to the vision we had at the beginning - quality work,” he said.

The clinic lies along the Louis Botha Corridor. The JDA has implemented various Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) related infrastructures, connecting multiple nodes from the Joburg CBD to Orange Grove, Alexandra, and Sandton. 

The infrastructure along this corridor promotes economic activities, recreational spaces, and access to health within walkable precincts anchored by the BRT.  

MMC for Development Planning Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku said the oversight visit was an “eye-opening” experience, explaining that, as promised in the recent budget speech, the City committed to the construction and opening of ten new clinics. The Orchards Clinic is an example of the future of the City’s primary health care system. 

The City Health Department will hand over Orchards Clinic to the Gauteng Department of Health and oversee the operations of the health services, which will be performed by the provincial government.

In closing, “I am very excited and proud to see another project completed by the JDA. I know that there were challenges, including structural damage, in the construction of this clinic, and the termination of contractors. I am glad that this facility is complete and ready for operations,” MMC Echeozonjoku said.

Issued by Johannesburg Development Agency