City of Johannesburg

Johannesburg Development Agency

No 3 Helen Joseph Street PO Box 61877 Tel +27(0) 11 688 7851 (O)
The Bus Factory Marshalltown Fax +27(0) 11 688 7899/63
Newtown 2107 E-mail: info@jda.org.za
Johannesburg, 2000

www.jda.org.za
www.joburg.org.za
To: All news editors
For immediate release
23 September

ORCHARDS CLINIC RECIEVES A LIFELINE

The construction of the state-of-the-art primary health care Orchards Clinic, in Orange Grove, has
been thrown a lifeline after the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) appointed a new
contractor – GVK Siya Zama, who have resumed construction works on site from 21 September
2020.

Construction of the clinic, found along Louis Botha Avenue, has undergone many challenges,
resulting in delays on the project. In 2018, a new engineer was appointed to create a design solution
for construction as a corrective measure following allegations of structural under-design by the
previously appointed engineer.

Remedial works were undertaken and all efforts focused on ensuring that the structure complies
with the new structural design. Additional steel beams and columns were added throughout the
building to create a stronger structure. These remedial works were completed in March 2019.

Directors
P Kganare (Chairperson) A Ngcezula (CEO) S Moonsamy (CFO) M Ntanga EV Magerman V Magale S Moichela Dr.M Makwarela M Hleko N Moiloa S Masango T Motloung T Mvundle
R Shirinda (Company Secretary)
Registration Number: 2001/005101/07
The construction works in Orange Grove were once again suspended after the appointed main
contractor, Fikile Construction (Pty) LTD, failed to meet the September 2019 deadline to complete
construction of the clinic after taking over the site in April 2019.

In line with 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 and, after construction activities recommenced under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
lockdown, “the JDA remains committed to completing the clinic which will offer greatly improved
health care services to residents of Orange Grove and neighbouring suburbs,” JDA CEO Mr
Anthony T. Ngcezula said.

The clinic will consist of 20 consulting rooms, emergency facilities, antenatal, ARV and TB service
facilities as well as a courtyard, office space and parking area for staff and patients once completed.

The building will incorporate environmentally friendly features allowing for rainwater harvesting,
solar heating and maximal use of natural light and ventilation, as well as a vegetable garden.

Orchards Clinic forms part of the four new clinics identified for the upgrade, as part of the Corridors
of Freedom programme, and was visited by the City of Joburg’s MMC for Development Planning,
Cllr Lawrence Khoza, as part of an oversight tour recently.

“This project has had various challenges in the past, but we are happy that the JDA has had the
courage to intervene and make sure that the relevant steps were taken to make sure that this
projects is back on track,” MMC Khoza said.

The clinic, in particular, lies along the Louis Botha Corridor of Freedom where the City is currently
rolling out Rea Vaya BRT related infrastructure, which connects multiple nodes from the inner city
to Orange Grove to Alex, as well as Sandton.
The infrastructure along this corridor promotes economic activities, recreational spaces and access
to health within walkable precincts anchored by transit facilities.

“This facility is critical for the residents of Johannesburg. If there is one thing we have learnt from
the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that access to healthcare is highly critical. We, as the City of
Johannesburg, will be resolute in ensuring that this project is completed on time and that this facility
provides access to healthcare,” Cllr MMC Khoza said.

Ends

Issued by:
Johannesburg Development Agency
Susan Monyai
Email: smonyai@jda.org.za