Questions are mounting over the future of 1 Military Hospital after the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) admitted that the ageing facility may be unable to meet modern healthcare demands despite more than R1 billion having already been spent on refurbishment projects over the years.
The admission comes days after The Star revealed that the government was considering the possibility of building a new military hospital while large sections of the existing Pretoria facility remain incomplete following years of delays, legal disputes, procurement challenges, and investigations.
Responding to questions from The Star, the Department of Defence confirmed that it is assessing long-term options for military healthcare infrastructure as concerns grow about whether continued investment in the current hospital remains financially and operationally viable.
Brigadier General Selinah Rawlins, Director of Defence Corporate Communication, said the hospital's ageing infrastructure presents significant limitations.
"The present facility no longer meets the standard required for a military hospital of its kind, and a recommendation is being considered for the construction of a new facility. The present facility may not accommodate the latest medical equipment even after refurbishment."
