Netcare, one of South Africa’s largest private healthcare groups, has appointed long-serving executive Melanie Da Costa as its next CEO, succeeding Dr Richard Friedland who steps down at the end of 2026 after three decades at the helm.
Netcare Group is moving swiftly on its sustainability strategy and arguably boasts one of the most ambitious targets among JSE-listed companies: achieving a full transition to renewable energy sources by 2030.
The group, which operates private healthcare facilities in South Africa, aims to achieve net zero Scope 2 emissions by 2030 as part of the second phase of its environmental sustainability strategy, which commenced in 2022. Their combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions target, which emphasises waste, water, and backup energy resilience, stands at 84%.
In its financial results for the six months to March 31, Netcare on Monday announced that a wind power purchase agreement, covering six Eskom-supplied hospitals, is on track to deliver up to 100% renewable electricity to these facilities from September 2026.
Ongoing engagements position the group well to extend wind power to an additional 56 municipally supplied acute hospitals, including Akeso and Medicross facilities, with up to 100% supply of wind power expected from March 2027.
