Koster, North West – A bitter dispute has erupted between the Bring Back K5 Veterans Organisation and the North West Provincial Health Department over the delayed upgrades to the struggling Koster District Hospital.
Frustrated community members accuse the department of failing to honor its commitment to refurbish the dilapidated facility after multiple meetings with officials. Meanwhile, the department claims the R120 million initially budgeted for the project had to be reallocated after community members challenged the tender process and budget.
A Hospital in Crisis
Residents describe shocking conditions at the hospital, including collapsing ceilings, sanitation issues, and even snakes found in the wards. Patients also report inadequate isolation facilities, forcing tuberculosis (TB) patients to share space with others.
“When you go in there, it’s all broken ceilings everywhere,” said one community member. “They killed two snakes in the hospital… You can be admitted in the same ward as someone with TB. There needs to be separate wards.”
The hospital’s poor state has had dire consequences, with some residents unable to afford transport to better-equipped facilities in Rustenburg or other towns. “We see a lot of people dying in our township because they are unemployed and don’t have money to travel,” another resident lamented.
Broken Promises and Delays
Community leaders say they were promised upgrades by former officials, but progress has stalled. “We were told there was R100 million available, but we need the truth. We don’t want any more delays,” a representative from the Bring Back K5 Veterans Organisation said.
However, the provincial health department insists the holdup resulted from a lack of community support initially. By the time opposition subsided, budget constraints forced a reallocation of funds.
“Due to budget cuts, the department could not immediately move to procurement,” a spokesperson explained. The refurbishment project is now expected to begin procurement in the last quarter of this financial year, with construction starting next year.
No New Hospital in Sight
The department also dismissed calls for a completely new hospital, estimating costs at over R400 million—far exceeding available funds. For now, the community must wait for the long-promised upgrades as the hospital continues to deteriorate.
With lives at stake, tensions remain high as residents demand urgent action. “We really need the truth,” said one frustrated local. “We don’t want this project delayed anymore.”
As the standoff continues, patients and staff at Koster District Hospital are left grappling with substandard conditions, hoping for a resolution before the situation worsens.
