In a targeted effort to address persistent capacity challenges, Gauteng Health is expanding infrastructure across the Sedibeng district with the reopening of three refurbished wards at Kopanong District Hospital and the launch of an upgraded male psychiatric ward at Sebokeng Regional Hospital. Gauteng Health MEC Faith Mazibuko will officially commission the facilities, which department spokesperson Steve Mabona says are critical to reducing overcrowding and enhancing the quality of patient care.
“The emergency units in some of our hospitals are full because of the capacity that we have there,” Mabona explained. “We decided to refurbish some of these facilities so that we can have more space for our patients.” The upgrades, which commenced last year and conclude this year, were executed while facilities remained fully operational—a logistical challenge requiring stringent safety protocols. “It’s quite a delicate space to work in,” Mabona noted. “You need to take cognizance that people don’t need to be impacted in terms of them being injured while they are on site… barricade some of the areas and make sure that you don’t harm your patients.”
At Sebokeng Regional Hospital, the newly enhanced male psychiatric ward responds to escalating demand for mental health services. Mabona connected this need to the province’s substance abuse crisis, stating: “The substance abuse that we see in the province dictates that at some point, most of those patients that are coming for the first time in our facilities, one way or the other, they must be treated at the psychiatric ward.” He emphasized that secure, purpose-built environments are essential for safely managing patients who may exhibit aggressive behavior, ensuring they receive consistent medication and appropriate therapeutic support.
To enable further improvements at Sebokeng, emergency services will be temporarily relocated to a new site, allowing refurbishment of the existing overcrowded emergency unit. This phased strategy aims to maintain service continuity while upgrading critical infrastructure.
Beyond Sedibeng, Mabona outlined a broader provincial infrastructure roadmap. Priority projects include finalizing phase two of Thembisa Hospital—addressing areas previously condemned due to safety concerns—and opening additional wards at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in August. Expansion efforts are also advancing in the Ga-Rankuwa area to meet growing community demand, while refurbishment work continues at a hospital in the City Bank precinct. “We are moving across,” Mabona affirmed, while acknowledging that construction timelines are influenced by complex procurement processes, regulatory requirements, and the imperative to safeguard patients during renovations.
The department reiterated its patient-centered mandate throughout the upgrade process. “We will always make sure that we care for our patients,” Mabona said, underscoring that the completion of these wards reflects tangible progress in strengthening public healthcare delivery. With these newly commissioned spaces now operational, Gauteng Health aims to ease immediate pressure on frontline services while laying groundwork for sustainable, long-term capacity improvements across the district.