The enhanced Welkom Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Hospital now stands as a beacon of hope for injured workers. It offers effective recovery through expert medical care and cutting-edge therapeutic facilities, said the group.

The hospital, which first opened its doors in 2016, has undergone a full refurbishment to expand capacity, introduce advanced medical technologies, and enhance therapy environments that support patient recovery and reintegration.

The upgraded facility, which opened on Friday (3/10), now features expanded custodial care, wound management, rehabilitation, and vocational rehabilitation units. 

It also includes an on-site pharmacy, 24-hour nursing care, and a multidisciplinary clinical team comprising occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and sessional medical officers.

A new orthotics and prosthetics centre has been established through a joint-venture partnership to support customised mobility solutions for patients.

“We have done more than just reopening a facility; we are renewing a promise,” said RMA’s group CEO Mandla Shezi. “It’s a promise that as a social insurer, we will close gaps in our country’s social security system.

“It is a promise when a worker is injured or disabled, we will not only compensate them but we will restore their health, support their recovery, and safeguard their dignity. And we will help them return to meaningful economic and social participation.

“Our responsibility as a social insurer is different from that of a commercial insurer or a commercial hospital; we have a legal mandate to rehabilitate injured workers, and therefore cannot leave rehabilitation to chance. For us, infrastructure is not just an investment class; it’s an enabler of protection, dignity, and social value.”

The hospital now has a multidisciplinary team comprising physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Photo supplied

Throughout the construction phase, RMA actively collaborated with local contractors, skilled artisans, and suppliers, which resulted in the creation of hundreds of temporary job opportunities. This engagement not only provided employment but also fostered skills development among local workers.

Deputy minister of employment and labour Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala, in the keynote address at the launch, emphasised the importance of partnerships among business, government, and civil society.

“In the spirit of partnership and progress, this hospital stands as a living symbol of what can be achieved when government, business, and civil society unite and work together.”  

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OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg