1 Military Hospital upgrades ‘need more funding’

"Everything possible was done to resolve issues at the facility," Motshekga told Parliament during a briefing to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence on Friday.

Persistent problems have plagued the hospital, including decades-long mismanagement, stalled refurbishments, allegations of corruption, staff shortages, and deteriorating infrastructure.

It has also lost critical health accreditations due to its inability to meet regulatory standards.

During the apartheid era, 1 Military Hospital was regarded as one of the most advanced military medical facilities in Africa and stood as a flagship for military healthcare. However, its reputation has steadily declined over the years due to persistent neglect, poor management, and a refurbishment project that has dragged on for decades without completion.

The refurbishment began in 1999 under the Department of Defence's Repair and Maintenance Project (RAMP), initially budgeted at R232 million. However, by 2011, spending had more than doubled to over R431 million, while key areas such as emergency theatres, radiology units, and the pharmacy remained incomplete. 

Today, despite more than R1 billion spent over 25 years, the hospital remains largely non-operational.

Briefing MPs, Motshekga said budget constraints within the Department of Public Service and Administration have hindered progress. 

She emphasised the hospital's strategic importance, particularly for military personnel and operations such as the repatriation of remains.

“It’s such a chaos that the hospital sometimes became a referral centre where soldiers are referred to nearby facilities, which is costly to the hospital, but also costly for the very same patients. The hospital is such a very strategic asset of the state. When we are repatriating the remains, it’s only 1 Military Hospital that could accommodate the remains,” said Motshekga.

She further explained that no tender appointments could be made until Treasury confirms the budget allocation.

“We are committed because it affects us directly, but also, we would be dishonest if we said that in three months, I will go on tenders. I just can’t commit, it depends whether we get the money and then as soon as we get the commitment from Treasury and approval from Cabinet, we will go out and get appointments going on. But I can’t be dishonest and say that will happen in three months.”

According to SANDF’s Lesiba Kekana, the Department of Public Works has already spent over R400 million, while the Department of Defence has spent R52 million on the project. 

He estimated that the total cost of the refurbishment, including medical equipment worth over R700 million, could exceed R1.4 billion.

“For us to proceed and continue with the refurbishment and the upgrade at 1 Military Hospital, we need the funding,” Kekana stated.

Despite these challenges, the hospital remains operational, though its functionality and overall capacity are significantly limited.

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