EFF slams deputy minister visit to 1 Military Hospital

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have issued a scathing rebuke following the visit by Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Major-General Bantu Holomisa, to 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane on 17 July.

Describing the hospital as a ‘monument to gross mismanagement, corruption, and neglect’, the EFF warned that the visit must not be reduced to a public relations exercise, insisting instead on urgent, decisive action to restore the long-dysfunctional facility.

EFF spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo, expressed the party’s outrage at the hospital’s state, emphasising the severe consequences of its ongoing collapse.

“This is not about optics,” Thambo said. “For over two decades, 1 Military Hospital has failed our soldiers, veterans, and the South African people. Its dysfunction is not just administrative, but it has cost lives.”

Thambo referred to the case of Warrant Officer MP Mncube, who was denied medical admission on 14 April and later passed away.

The hospital, designed to be a flagship 500-bed medical facility for military personnel, has long ceased to function at even a basic level, according to the EFF.

Allegedly, critical units, including operating theatres, casualty departments, and intensive care facilities located on the first floor, have remained locked and non-functional since March 2011.

Thambo accused the government of pouring hundreds of millions into the hospital with no visible improvement.

“Over R431-million was spent, R232-million initially, followed by an additional R156-million under the so-called expansion during 2010 [and] 2011. Yet nothing works. These funds have disappeared into a cesspool of corruption and incompetence,” he charged.

The EFF highlighted the continued strain placed on the South African National Defence Force, noting that due to the hospital’s disrepair, medical services had to be outsourced at an exorbitant cost.

“By 2019/20 alone, the Force had spent over R1-billion on outsourced care, money that could have revitalised the hospital many times over,” said Thambo.

During an oversight visit by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans in March 2025, the EFF raised alarm over the hospital’s ‘catastrophic condition’, yet Holomisa only responded months later.

“Holomisa’s delayed visit is symptomatic of the broader indifference in the department,” said Thambo, “We do not need sympathy tours. We need accountability, transparency, and action.”

The party issued five urgent demands in the wake of the visit, including a demand for full transparency.

“The Abacus report, along with the findings from the Special Investigating Unit and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, must be made public,” said Thambo, “Swift prosecutions must follow.”

The EFF also demanded an increase in the defence budget to 1.5% of GDP, with R1.4-billion ring-fenced specifically for the completion of the hospital’s refurbishment.

Thambo further condemned what he called a ‘shameful and callous’ response from Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga.

“Her detachment from the reality facing our soldiers and veterans is inexcusable. It reflects a contemptuous disregard for the lives of those who serve.”

He reaffirmed his party’s commitment to championing the cause of military personnel and veterans.

“Through oversight visits, parliamentary interventions, and direct public action, the EFF will not rest until 1 Military Hospital is fully functional, not as a luxury institution for the elite, but as a dignified space of care for our soldiers and veterans,” said Thambo.

Omogolo Taunyane, Chief of Staff in the deputy minister’s office, said that to refer to the state of 1 Military Hospital as barely functional is ‘conjecture’ on the part of the EFF.

“It is a matter of fact that the hospital is operating in accordance with its strategic mandate to provide healthcare services for our military personnel, their dependents, military veterans, and dignitaries.

“Furthermore, it is beneficial to understand the context of Holomisa’s visit to 1 Military Hospital earlier this month. It was to deliberate on the sustainability and operational efficacy of the health facility.

“One of the emerging concerns from the engagement with the Military Health Support Command was to resolve on interventions regarding maintenance and upgrades of the hospital.

“This discussion is opportune, considering that the hospital was built in 1978 with a significantly smaller scale operationally compared to the demands of current times.”

Regarding the allegation of the EFF that an estimated R1-billion has been spent outsourcing medical care to private facilities due to the hospital’s failure, while soldiers and veterans have reportedly died awaiting treatment, she said the EFF’s allegation is inaccurate.

“The sum of expenditure on outsourcing is at R225-million, largely for radiography, laboratory services, and surgical disciplines.

“In instances where patients require specialised medical attention, 1 Military Hospital transfers them to receive healthcare services at private institutions.

“This arrangement remains in place pending the completion of planned maintenance and upgrades. The consequences of not having an arrangement of this nature in place would be detrimental to our patients.”

She emphasised that having this arrangement means that patients receive medical attention without delay, or risking not getting medical attention.

“Reports of patients dying while awaiting treatment are untrue,” said Taunyane.

Rekord contacted the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for comment, but nothing had been received by the time of publication.

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