SALDANHA – It has been quietly serving soldiers, sailors, and airmen on the West Coast for nearly a year, but on Friday, 24 July 2026, the Saldanha Military Base pulled out all the stops to officially open its newly refurbished and expanded Sickbay.

The ceremony drew top military brass to the base, and Lieutenant General Ntshavheni Peter Maphaha, the Surgeon General of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), delivered the keynote address.

Maphaha told those present that the upgraded facility reflects the South African Military Health Service’s commitment to quality healthcare under the theme “Towards Military Health Excellence.”

He emphasised that modern healthcare infrastructure is essential not only for military readiness, but also for ensuring dignified care for those who serve the nation.

For the medical professionals stationed on the West Coast, including the medics, nurses, dental officers, and physiotherapists who keep the defence community healthy, the upgraded Sickbay is a game-changer.

The 40-room clinic now boasts operating rooms, dental surgeries, a physiotherapy section, a dispensary, and an emergency resuscitation area.

Beyond the clinical upgrades, the facility has also added extra consultation and waiting rooms, dedicated observation and dressing rooms, expanded dental services, upgraded emergency facilities, improved patient administration areas, and a reliable backup power system to keep things running when the grid fails.

What makes the Sickbay so important to the West Coast is its reach. It serves a wide footprint of military personnel, veterans, dependants, Reserve Force members, and trainees across the region. That includes the Military Academy in Saldanha, SAS Saldanha, the Langebaanweg Air Force base, and 4 Special Forces Regiment.

For the Saldanha Bay area, where the military bases is woven into everyday life, the upgrade means local servicemen and women can receive basic healthcare and emergency treatment at the Sickbay before being transferred to the main medical centre at Langebaanweg for overnight care.

For specialised treatment, such as surgery, patients are still transferred to 2 Military Hospital in Cape Town.

And for the dedicated staff who have been working behind the scenes for the past year, the official recognition and upgraded infrastructure bring pride and renewed purpose.

The Surgeon General thanked all the stakeholders who

contributed to the project before officially declaring the Saldanha Sickbay open, describing it as a beacon of health and excellence for the military community.