The Namakwa Civic Movement has welcomed the opening of a new oncology centre in Springbok, but says it also exposes long-standing failures in regional healthcare planning.

The centre was made possible through capital investment by Vedanta Zinc International and was designed and managed by BVi Consulting Engineers.

The party says the facility is a victory for cancer patients who have long been forced to travel to Kimberley or Bloemfontein for treatment, following years of peaceful healthcare protests.

However, in a public statement issued yesterday, the party expressed concerns about ownership, maintenance, and the urgent need to train and recruit skilled medical staff to fully utilise the infrastructure.

NCM criticised the Department of Health for ignoring repeated proposals for a regional hospital, warning that without decisive action, the new centre risks becoming another underused asset.