A modern psychiatric hospital is planned for construction in Port Shepstone, located on the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, which will accommodate both inpatients and outpatients. This new facility is designed for 28 beds and aims to significantly strengthen the healthcare system in the region, as well as stimulate economic growth and job creation.
Project Details and Funding
The total cost of the project is estimated at R240 million. The Department of Health and Public Works and Infrastructure of KwaZulu-Natal will be responsible for implementing this initiative. The hospital is designed to address a significant gap in service provision and will provide necessary specialized care for people with mental health issues.
Team and Facility Structure
Nokwanda Gqaba, Director of Technical Support and Infrastructure Services for DPWI KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed the existence of this 28-bed hospital. She specified that the R240 million covers only the construction costs. The project team includes the contractor GVK-Siya Zama, which successfully participated in the tender, as well as a project manager, a security officer, an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employee, architects, quantity surveyors, electrical, mechanical, civil, and construction engineers, and an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) agent.
According to Gqaba, the team comprises representatives from the Department of Public Works (head office and regional office), the Department of Health (infrastructure), the Port Shepstone hospital administration, the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, and the Ugu District Municipality, as well as the project steering committee, GVK-Siya Zama, and local businesses.
Layout and Construction Timeline
The new complex will include 28 beds. The outpatient section will have a reception area, while the inpatient section will consist of a male ward with 13 beds and a female ward with seven beds. Additionally, clinical support areas, staff parking, fencing, and a backup generator will be installed, as the hospital's operation critically depends on electricity supply. The process will require the demolition of old infrastructure before new construction begins.
The project is expected to take 30 months to complete. Gqaba noted that the Department of Labour required an application for work permits, which has been approved.
Job Creation and Social Responsibility
The job creation plan includes hiring 228 workers strictly under the EPWP program, in addition to creating additional vacancies for skilled labor. Staff allocation will consider demographics according to phase five, with target percentages of 60% women, 55% youth, and 3% persons with disabilities. The project also supports the goals of involving local contractors and the CIDB Build program.
Five percent, amounting to R1.2 million, has been allocated within CIDB Build. These funds will be directed exclusively to university students undergoing internships and TVET college students. This will involve collaboration with the municipality and TVET colleges in the Port Shepstone area.
Leaders' Statements
The MEC for DPWI KwaZulu-Natal, Martin Meyer, stated that this project worth over R240 million is his first major initiative in office. He emphasized that it is an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to deliver quality infrastructure on time and within budget. Meyer also noted that the project brings hope to the community in combating unemployment by providing over 100 jobs during construction, alongside 228 EPWP opportunities.