A heavyweight government delegation will visit Middelburg tomorrow (August 4) for the grand opening of the King Nyabela Hospital.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be joined by the minister of health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, and the premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, as well as senior government officials and traditional leaders.

King Nyabela Hospital is a replacement and upgrade of the old provincial hospital.

Facility honours historic resistance leader

The new facility is named in honour of a leader of the Ndzundza-Ndebele people, who was the son of King Mabhoko.

King Nyabela (1825–1902) was the ruler of the Ndzundza (Mapoch) Ndebele Kingdom, whose territory lay in what is today Mpumalanga, particularly around Roossenekal, Steelpoort, and the Mapoch Caves. He is remembered as one of South Africa’s foremost African resistance leaders for defending his people’s land and independence against colonial expansion.

Hospital features 220 beds and modern departments

Construction of the 220-bed King Nyabela Hospital started in 2017 and is a level 1 district hospital.

The new hospital comprises a full suite of clinical departments, including internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and high care.

The hospital features three state-of-the-art operating theatres, an outpatient services department, and a 24-hour accident and emergency department.

Residents voice frustration over service delivery

Residents took to social media to share their reactions to the president’s visit.

• Ahmed Bhayat: “Can we invite Ramaphosa to visit each area in Middelburg? Then maybe everything will get fixed.”
• Mabel McGoane: “Can he come at night to see how dark the town has become?”
• Kevin Opperman: “That explains the painted roads.”
• Mpho Magane: “I think we as a community must go there and strike on that day.”
• Lizinda Loots Labuschagne: “I wondered why the streets at the entrance and exit of town are being repainted.”
• Jeannette Goddard Elson: “Oh, no wonder only certain routes are being newly painted.”
• Ashton Beukes: “I wish you guys clean and he doesn’t show up.”
• Diane Chetty: “Go see the potholes going to the mall, Midwater centre, you cannot drive on the road.”