Green Point Community Day Centre, neighbour to Somerset Hospital, will undergo a major revamp with the contractor starting on Monday, May 18 and work set to be completed within the next year.
On Thursday, May 7, during a community engagement meeting, plans for the CDC pharmacy upgrade and general maintenance of the facility were detailed by the Western Cape government's departments of health and wellness, and infrastructure.
Jihaan Opperman, spokeswoman for the health department's Southern Western Sub-structures, said that the centre serves patients from the surrounding areas as well as individuals from across the city who work in the Cape Town CBD.
"Many patients began accessing services while employed in the CBD and continue to choose Green Point CDC for their care even after retirement.
"The clinic supports an average of approximately 3 200 patient visits per month, underscoring its important role in the community," she said.
The centre will remain fully operational throughout the construction period.
The upgrade aims to enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare services at the facility.
The project includes modernising the pharmacy, creating additional clinical spaces, and addressing essential maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. These improvements will enable the clinic to better meet current and future patient needs while maintaining uninterrupted services during construction.
During the meeting, consultant Shahien Ishmail outlined the details of targets to empower six youth in a 12-month expanded public works programme (EPWP); 15 labourers to undergo technical skills training; and 15 labourers to receive life skills training, both for up to 15 days.
"This initiative goes beyond simple construction, aiming to create lasting socio-economic benefits for the surrounding communities, particularly those in the immediate vicinity and neighbouring areas," he said.
Immediate community involvement spans a 20km radius from the centre, this would include Langa, stretching across to Milnerton, Woodstock, and or the Bo-Kaap.
Fadl Salie, from the department of infrastructure, said a key component of this strategy was the establishment of the project liaison committee (PLC), which acts as the direct channel between the community, the contractor, and the implementing authority.
"The PLC, intended to include representatives from local faith-based organisations, neighborhood watches, and community bodies, is crucial for ensuring local needs and concerns are addressed transparently," he said.
Its mandate is to guide the project team on community issues, oversee the distribution of work opportunities, and manage expectations regarding the project's scope and timelines.
The project has set targets for local content participation, including specific percentages for black-owned sub-contractors and the employment of local labour.
Member of New Somerset Hospital Facility Board, Crispian Swarbreck, said it was challenging to access and attract the local workforce because their contact details were either incorrect or they could not reconnect because of a lack of airtime.
He proposed flexibility with regard to training and recruitment, potentially leveraging partnerships with local educational institutions like Cape Peninsula University of Technology and College of Cape Town for learnership and skills training programmes.
Mr Ishmail said that the goal was not just to comply with quotas but to provide meaningful, visible work experience that can enhance individual profiles and career prospects within the construction sector.
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