President Cyril Ramaphosa
MIDDELBURG, MPUMALANGA – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to the newly built Middelburg Hospital has marked another milestone in the Mpumalanga province’s healthcare sector. During his visit on Thursday, President Ramaphosa was left thoroughly impressed by the facility, which he noted was a clear indication of the country’s progress in developing its healthcare infrastructure and inclusivity.
“This is most impressive. It’s a modern, state-of-the-art and it’s going to serve the community of about 330 000 people. This is development. This is how we are developing our country from a social and health point of view and we’re doing it cost-effectively as well,” said President Ramaphosa, commenting on the hospital’s capacity and modernity.
The visit to the hospital was scheduled ahead of the District Development Model Presidential Imbizo at the Emalahleni district, showcasing the government’s efforts in reinforcing participatory democracy and sustainable growth through conversing with communities about their needs and concerns.
Highlighting the collaborative effort in the hospital’s creation, the President acknowledged the value of involving local players in such projects. “I also appreciated the way there was thorough consultation with various stakeholders in the area to bring in small and medium enterprises, and to bring in communities, who participated in one shape, form or the other in the construction of the hospital,” he praised.
The role of community engagement, as Ramaphosa pointed out, is key to preventing unsavory practices and fostering a sense of ownership among locals. “This is what we should do because in many ways, it also avoids this very bad practice that has emerged of construction mafias. When the community is well-organised and is part of the construction of a facility, everybody feels like they own the facility and they can benefit from a job point of view, and from a supplying point of view,” President Ramaphosa explained.
Ramaphosa also acknowledged the strategic approach to the hospital’s funding. “I appreciate also the funding model that was used. It was funded from the budget but over a five-year period in various phases, not all at once. To do it over a set period is clearly the way to go,” he stated with approval.
In anticipation of the National Health Insurance (NHI), the President underscored the Middelburg Hospital as a leading example. “This is going to be a clean, well-run hospital and a really good demonstration of what the NHI is going to be all about. So this is a very good precursor to the NHI,” he said, addressing critics and heralding the site as a ready candidate for NHI implementation upon the signing of the NHI Bill into law.
Later in the day, President Ramaphosa led the government’s interaction with community members and stakeholders at the 12th Presidential Imbizo, themed ‘Leave No One Behind.’ This gathering, set to take place at the Sy Mthimunye Stadium in Emalahleni, is an exercise in strengthening the bonds of participatory governance and ensuring the voices of all South Africans are heard and addressed.

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