Delayed hospice construction to start soon
ALEXANDRA – Alex hospice construction back on track after land debacle ends.
The Alexandra Hospice and Rehabilitation Centre will soon commence the construction of its facilities at its new premises in Eastbank.
This after the Joburg Property Company and the Joburg Development Agency ordered a business operator to vacate the land after almost a year’s refusal. The order was given after this paper published several stories on the matter including, Alex could lose multi-million rand hospice development, Week ending 29 April.
The operator, who had been relocated from Setswetla Informal Settlement, annexed the land, claiming that he had been given temporary user rights. Project sponsors, India’s Samarpan Foundation’s Cyril Mahoa, along with the hospice’s Grace Marutlulle said the delay almost cost the hospice the multi-million rand grant for the construction and operations.
Mahoa added that construction will start as soon as the operator has moved off the land. “The project will, instead of ordinary bricks, be constructed of plastic bottles filled with sand. The technology, copied from India, has been used for the construction of early childhood development centres in the Eastern Cape,” Mahoa said, adding that the method passed the strength test by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
He said the buildings would accommodate double the current number of terminal and chronically ill patients and will be equipped with modern technology and attract a range of professionals to provide holistic services.
Mahoa also indicated that they currently employed more than 60 locals to make the bottled ‘bricks’, and trained builders who will be complemented by local building co-operatives. “This contributes to local employment, provides income to locals and pocket money to children who supply the bottles in their own spare time, while also contributing to environmental management. We also pay local truck and bakkie owners for the supply of disused sand from dump sites.”
