OPENING AND WELCOMING REMARKS BY THE PREMIER OF MPUMALANGA, MP NDLOVU, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF KING NYABELA HOSPITAL
04 AUGUST 2026
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa
The Honourable Minister of Health Dr, Motsoaledi
MEC for Health Ms Manzini
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Mr Thomo
Representatives of the Mpumalanga House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders led by Kgosi Mokoena who is also President of CONTRALESA nabo bonke abo Ndabezitha abakhona la
Isizukulwana sika King Nyabela, and all royal houses
Nkangala District Mayor, Cllr Ngwenya
Steve Tshwete Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Masilela
The Acting Director General Prof Crisp
Mpumalanga Director-General Ms Skosana and all government officials
The Business Sector and the Community of Middleburg and the surrounding areas.
Good morning
Honourable President, we thank you for spending three days with us within a space of a week. On Friday you witnessed the launch of the biggest project in the country, Umbila Emoyeni Wind project.
On Sunday, the president was here, at Emalahleni to encourage the youth to register on the voter’s roll in order to participate in the upcoming Local Government Elections.
Today, we are honoured by the presence of the Honourable President, who is here to officially open the state-of-the-art King Nyabela Hospital, a landmark investment valued at R1.6 billion. Mr President, as you can see, this world-class infrastructure is a clear demonstration of value for money and reflects government's commitment to providing quality healthcare services for our people.
The recent General Household Survey revealed that only 12.6% of the people of Mpumalanga are medically insured and 87.4% of our people depend on public health care, while the majority of the resources are in the private health system.
Kusukela ngo-1994, uhulumeni wethu usakhele izibhedlela ezintsha ezi-ngu (7) kanye nama clinics awu-105 lapha eMpumalanga. Ngokubambisana ne private sector, siphinde sakha amanye ama clinics awu-24. Njengamanje, sakha amanye ama clinics awu-10 kulo nyaka.
Njengamanje sakha i-Mapulaneng Hospital, futhi siyakholwa ukuthi President uzobuya uzosivula naso leso sibhedlela. Mayelana nesibhedlela i-Linnah Malatjie, sesicedela ukukhulumisana no Minister of Finance futhi umsebenzi wokwakha uzocala manje.
Ama plans siwacedile okwakhiwa kwesibhedlela se Mpumalanga psychiatric hospital .
I’m pleased to announce that the planning and design phases for both projects have been completed, bringing us closer to expanding specialised health care services in our province.
Lapha eMpumalanga sinama-ambulensi awu-195, futhi sizongeza amanye awu-20. Inhloso yethu ukuqinisekisa ukuthi ama-ambulensi afika ngesikhathi lapho edingeka khona, Sisebenzela ekutheni i-ambulensi eyodwa isebenzele amawadi amabili kuphela. The ratio is 1 ambulance is to 2 ward
By opening this new Middelburg Hospital which we have named after the AmaNdebele King and warrior, King Nyabela we are pushing back the frontiers of unequal access to quality health care.
This development will reduce travel distances for patients and improve access to critical health care services within the community.
Preparing for National Health Insurance (NHI)
As a province, we are actively preparing for the implementation of National Health Insurance.
Achievements in this sub-district include:
15 out of 15 healthcare facilities (100%) have achieved Ideal Clinic Status.14 out of 15 facilities (93%) have been certified by the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC).The remaining facility is scheduled for reassessment.
Primary Healthcare Facilities
285 out of 290 Primary Healthcare facilities (98.3%) have achieved Ideal Clinic Status.
District Hospitals
23 out of 23 district hospitals (100%) have achieved Ideal Hospital Status.
Our current performance demonstrates significant progress:
District Hospitals
18 out of 23 hospitals (78.3%) have been certified compliant by the OHSC.
Primary Healthcare Facilities
279 out of 290 facilities (96.2%) have been certified compliant by the OHSC.
President we are preparing for national Health Insurance, and I think we are ready.
Conclusion
The opening of King Nyabela Hospital is a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when government remains committed to improving the lives of its citizens.
Together, we are bringing healthcare closer to our communities and building a healthier Mpumalanga for generations to come.
Honourable President, 87.4% of our people rely on public health care because they are part of the medical uninsured South Africans. Our aim is to provide them with a fair and equal chance of accessing quality health care.
Honourable President, we want to assure the people of Mpumalanga that the government remains committed to the ideals of the Africans claims documents which was adopted by the ANC. Without hesitation, said “We regard it as the duty of the state to provide adequate medical and health facilities for the entire population of the country.”
So today we are not only celebrating the opening of King Nyabela Hospital, but we are also honouring the memory of Professor ZK Mathews, Rev James Calata, Rev Zacharia Mahabane, Malume Moses Kotane and many others who wrote the African Claims Document.
Honourable President, you are welcome.
I thank you.