Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, has officially introduced and handed over the dilapidated Nessie Knight Hospital in Sulenkama, outside Qumbu, to the appointed contractor for major renovations.
The introduction of the appointed contractor, SGT Sakhikhaya Joint Venture, and the handing over of the site took place on Friday, June 9.
The hospital refurbishment project is scheduled to run for a period of 33 months, with completion envisaged for March 2026.
However, both organised labour and the hospital board of the facility have called for the Nessie Knight Hospital to be built from scratch instead of renovating old buildings.
The hospital is said to be one of the oldest in the Eastern Cape, having been founded around early 1929.
“We are very happy that the provincial Department of Health is undertaking upgrades of the hospital. However, we would like the hospital to be built from the ground up, instead of being renovated,” said organised labour representative, Yanelisa Makinana.
“As things stand, the hospital departments do not work in unison as they are far apart from each other, and it is not easy to refer or transfer patients from one department to another.”
Makinana further lamented the shortage of space as some buildings have been decommissioned due to dilapidation, saying that this had reduced the hospital capacity from 150 beds to only 84.
Hospital board chairperson, Sandise Nyembezi, echoed the sentiments in calling for the facility to be built from scratch.
“As much as we appreciate the renovations that are going to take place at the hospital, our wish is for government to build a brand new Nessie Knight Hospital that will be on a par with today’s hospitals in terms of infrastructure,’ said Nyembezi.
Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, said that the refurbishments to the hospital were initially planned to be implemented under Phase 4, after the completion of the new staff accommodation project which was Phase 3.
The R103 million-project will include upgrading of the male and female wards, the laundry area, extension of the kitchen, upgrade and extension of the out-patient department (OPD) and emergency areas, as well as the students’ accommodation.
The upgrades will also provide adequate support spaces such as a newly-upgraded theatre, a central sterile service department, X-ray, a guard house and upgrading of existing gravel roads within the facility.
