R1 Billion Later, Still No Hospital: The Never-Ending Failure of 1 Military Hospital

South Africa’s 1 Military Hospital, once hailed as a symbol of cutting-edge military healthcare, now stands as a bleak reminder of state failure, mismanagement, and deep-rooted corruption.

Despite more than R1 billion spent on refurbishment efforts over the last 25 years, the hospital remains largely non-functional. Critical medical infrastructure—including emergency theatres, radiology units, and the pharmacy—has yet to be completed.

“This is a disgraceful symbol of waste and criminal neglect,” said Nicholas Gotsell, Member of Parliament, in a scathing statement. “At our insistence, the SIU and Hawks will finally account. Those responsible must face justice for turning a vital facility into a monument to waste.”

A 25-Year Project Still in Limbo

The hospital’s decline began with the Repair and Maintenance Project (RAMP) initiated in 1999. The initial estimate was R232 million, but by March 2011, spending had ballooned to over R431 million, with no functioning emergency theatres or pharmacy to show for it. Since then, the total investment has crossed the R1 billion mark—yet the hospital is still incomplete.

Meanwhile, staff work under compromised conditions, and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) continues to struggle without a fully operational military hospital.

Forensic Report Points to Corruption

According to the Democratic Alliance (DA), a forensic report has already implicated senior Defence officials in corruption tied to the project. Yet, no one has been held accountable.

“No disciplinary action. No arrests. No justice,” the DA stated in a recent media briefing.

Parliament Calls for Accountability

Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence has now agreed to accelerate a long-awaited briefing with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks). The meeting is scheduled for Friday, 16 May 2025.

This comes after years of pressure from opposition parties and civil society demanding answers on how one of South Africa’s most crucial healthcare facilities fell into such disrepair.

Once a Premier Institution

Established in 1931 in Thaba Tshwane (formerly Voortrekkerhoogte), Pretoria, 1 Military Hospital was once considered one of the most advanced military medical centres in Africa. During apartheid, it was a flagship institution in military healthcare.

Today, it stands as a shadow of its former self—its reputation tarnished by decades of delays, incompetence, and corruption.

The story of 1 Military Hospital is not just about a building. It’s about lives lost, resources squandered, and a healthcare system crippled by a lack of accountability. As Parliament prepares to hear from the SIU and Hawks, South Africans wait for justice—and for a long-promised hospital that still doesn’t function.

{Source: Bizcommunity}

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