SASOLBURG – On 21 July, Sasol officially handed over health infrastructure to the Free State Department of Health to help close long‑standing emergency healthcare service gaps.

This includes a newly constructed Deneysville Emergency Medical Services (EMS) facility and alternative water supply solutions at four Fezile Dabi district health facilities

The new EMS centre provides immediate, localised emergency response care to more than 31 000 residents in Deneysville, Oranjeville and surrounding rural settlements, significantly reducing response times to critical incidents such as road accidents, trauma cases, maternal emergencies and acute medical conditions.

Previously, emergency response services were rendered from Sasolburg, approximately 30 km away, resulting in extended response times.

Sasol places strong emphasis on localisation and inclusive economic participation, resulting in the contract for the construction of the Deneysville EMS facility being awarded to a 100% Black women‑owned local SMME.

Approximately 34 temporary jobs were created during the construction phase, with a focus on recruiting local labour and facilitating skills transfer in construction and infrastructure delivery.

Water

The availability of potable water remains a core determinant of effective healthcare delivery.

Where the Fezile Dabi District Municipality faced water challenges including water outages and unreliable water sources, it became crucial to provide alternative water supplies to Fezile Dabi district health facilities.

Sasol responded by installing boreholes at four facilities and one backup system at Parys Hospital to ensure compliant healthcare delivery.

These interventions further strengthen the strategic public‑private partnership between Sasol and the Free State Department of Health to support the regional healthcare system.

Since 2014, Sasol has invested more than R70 million in upgrading of healthcare facilities in Metsimaholo.

One of the largest investments was the work done at the Fezi Ngubentombi hospital in collaboration with the Free State Department of Health that elevated the facility to district hospital status.

Healthcare in Zamdela

Sasol also upgraded the Zamdela Health Care Centre, Clinic B, the Harry Gwala and Thusanang clinics and built a new clinic from where the Sasolburg Clinic now operates.

All these facilities were renovated and built to comply with the Department of Health’s specifications for ideal clinics.

As clinics are often not accessible to residents in more remote areas, Sasol donated five mobile clinics and a mobile eye clinic to the Free State Department of Health over the years to increase Metsimaholo residents’ access to quality health and wellness initiatives.

“The Deneysville EMS facility is far more than a building, and the boreholes, more than wells – they are lifelines.

“Sasol has delivered interventions that not only save lives today, but also strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system for the future,” said Ntokozo Gcabashe, Senior Vice President of Sasol’s Sasolburg and Natref Operations in Metsimaholo.

Visit society.sasol.com to learn more about Sasol’s social impact initiatives.