RANDFONTEIN - Residents of Mohlakeng, on Gauteng’s West Rand, say government has failed them.
Eight years and nearly R300-million later, a promised clinic, meant to open in 2020, remains unfinished.
The project is mired in claims of financial mismanagement, extortion, and failing contractors.
As officials trade excuses, residents say their suffering drags on.
"We know we have contractors, we hear stories there was a cartel that was involved in mismanagement of funds, we don't care about that," said community activist Aubrey Mohlaoli.
"What we are frustrated about is our basic need. Please, can we get our basic services to us?"
For residents, it means travelling kilometres, sometimes for hours, just to see a nurse or doctor.
Other facilities are simply overwhelmed.
But this clinic is just one of many.
Across Gauteng, dozens of multi-million-rand projects remain incomplete, abandoned or are years behind schedule.
"The worst case of an unfinished clinic is Khutsong South, which is 10 years overdue, and it still doesn't look like it's going to be completed," said the DA's Jack Bloom.
"People are suffering at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. The fire was five years ago, and they still haven't finished repairs there. So it's really massive incompetence, and I think that they need to look at corruption because people are suffering when these projects are delayed."
The Gauteng Infrastructure Development department says it’s still gathering information and was not immediately available for comment.
But in Mohlakeng, relief remains out of reach.
Construction has stalled, and yet another government promise now hangs in limbo.
And while officials scramble for answers, residents continue to suffer.
- eNCA's Manqoba Mchunu reports.