Construction of new hospital in Ekurhuleni commences

construction work on a r1 billion hospital to replace the natalspruit hospital in ekurhuleni has started.

gauteng's department of public transport, roads and works says the existing hospital was associated with "high" dolomite risk to patients, staff and visitors following an extensive assessments by engineers.

the new 760-bed hospital is being built on a 12.71 hectares site on the eastern edge of vosloorus.

former health mec gwen ramokgopa announced the project last year when she visited nigel and promised the community to improve health services there.

at the time she said the provincial department of health was planning to build a new hospital in daveyton and that a new site for natalspruit hospital had been identified.

commenting on the new project, mec ignatius jacobs said this showed the commitment of government towards building safe and sustainable communities in the province

construction would be done in two phases: enabling works is scheduled for six months, while site works and access road upgrades are limited to 30 months.

the mec said the new hospital would provide new socio-economic developments to the area and would also increase the feasibility of commercial developments, thus creating sustainable job opportunities.