The Department of Health has confirmed that the vacated 88-year-old Middelburg District Hospital premises will be repurposed into an administrative, clinical and support precinct by 2027.

Questions had hung heavy over what would become of the sprawling site following the recent high-profile opening of the R1.6b King Nyabela District Hospital on the R35, officially launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The old Middelburg District Hospital was originally built in 1938 and continuously expanded over the years.

By 2017, when the construction of King Nyabela was announced, the hospital operated on 349 approved beds but only 247 beds were usable.

Health department outlines multi-use plan

Addressing these inquiries, Department of Health spokesperson Dumisani Malamule confirmed that the premises will not be left to rot, but will instead be repurposed into a multi-use administrative, clinical and support precinct.

He said at the centre of the site’s revitalisation is a proposed new town clinic designed to ensure that residents in the central business district maintain direct access to primary healthcare after the main hospital operations’ relocation near the N4. The clinic is currently in the planning stages.

According to Malamule, the old facility will be utilised for a variety of critical operations, including the Steve Tshwete sub-district office, district and regional launderette, district archives centre and a forensic mortuary.

Malamule said the facility’s footprint would be streamlined, noting that any unused buildings will be surrendered to the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport for potential reallocation across other provincial government sectors.

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Site guarded ahead of 2027 target

Addressing concerns regarding property protection during the transition, Malamule assured that the infrastructure is actively being monitored.

“The department has provided security to safeguard the area, while finalising the process of establishing and relocating the above-mentioned units.”

He said the full conversion project will roll out in phases over the coming years, confirming that the department has already started the process, with the targeted conclusion expected by the second quarter of the 2027/28 financial year, mainly due to the construction of the new clinic.