Last week, I witnessed an elderly woman in Ward 6, Moretele Municipality, facing a dire health emergency. Lacking access to emergency medical services, she had to borrow from her neighbors to hire private transport, costing R500, a sum that seems insurmountable when you rely on grant money. It is heart-wrenching that such situations are common in our community and something needs to change.

In Ward 6, which includes five villages, there is only one clinic serving the population. The situation is exacerbated by long waiting queues, shortages of essential medication, and the complete absence of ambulance services for emergencies. For years, we've struggled with gravel roads that have gone unattended for over 26 years, making travel nearly impossible and sometimes lethal. People have lost their lives trying to reach medical facilities using expensive private transportation, as the costs can exceed R500 - a prohibitive amount for most residents. Moreover, individuals frequently spend over R50 just to travel to the local clinic.

These issues present a looming medical disaster, and the current healthcare service delivery system is under tremendous strain. It is unacceptable that in our community, where healthcare is supposed to be a basic right, we are deprived of even the most fundamental services and infrastructure. The lack of ambulances means that emergencies often turn tragic, while the enduring state of the roads denies communities access to swift medical attention.

We are petitioning the Moretele Municipality and health authorities to take immediate and concrete actions. First, the construction or upgrading of existing clinics to service all five villages is imperative to alleviate the pressure on the current facility. Secondly, a reliable ambulance service must be established to ensure that medical emergencies are attended to promptly. Thirdly, proper medication supplies need to be maintained at all times. Finally, we demand the urgent rehabilitation of the gravel roads which have been neglected for too long, hampering access to life-saving services.

It is only with your support that we can bring about meaningful change. By signing this petition, you are standing up for the rights to reliable and timely healthcare services for the residents of Ward 6. Let us come together to make our voices heard and demand a change in the system that has ignored our needs for too long. Together, we can transform our healthcare landscape and ensure no one else has to suffer the same plight as the gogo. Please sign this petition and help us drive the change that our community so desperately needs.