King Dinuzulu Hospital in Sydenham is set to become one of the first hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal — and the country — to have a dedicated extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) facility.
During an oversight visit on Thursday, 26 June, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works, Martin Meyer, inspected the progress of the R154 million construction project, a major step forward in the province’s fight against drug-resistant TB.
Meyer emphasised that the facility is a highly specialised and technical project, designed to serve patients from across the province and the country. It is being constructed on the opposite side of the main hospital, carefully positioned to prevent cross-infection of TB to other hospital patients and staff.
“This is a highly technical and specialised facility, one of the first in KwaZulu-Natal dedicated to extensively drug-resistant TB. It’s going to play a crucial role in treating patients not just in Durban, but from across the province and the country. It’s also a huge relief for the hospital as it will free up much-needed space that had to be used to treat TB patients within the main facility,”said Meyer.
He added, “I am proud that the Department of Public Works is able to deliver such a critical piece of healthcare infrastructure. This is part of my responsibility — to ensure the public has access to quality healthcare services supported by the right facilities.”
The hospital’s acting CEO, Tumelo Mabesa, said the facility is long overdue. “There is a huge demand for this facility. Because of the growing number of drug-resistant TB patients, we’ve had no choice but to repurpose critical spaces like the pharmacy and other wards to accommodate themThis new facility will relieve that pressure and ensure better infection control by isolating TB patients away from the general hospital population,” he said.
On the same day, the MEC also conducted an oversight visit to the hospital’s newly completed helicopter landing circle (helipad), which cost R18 million. The helipad is now fully operational, enabling 24-hour emergency airlifts.
“This helipad will make it easier for helicopters to land, especially during medical emergencies.It significantly improves the hospital’s ability to respond quickly to critical cases, especially when time is a matter of life and death,” Meyer explained.
The TB facility has faced numerous setbacks over the years. The project originally began in 2011, but construction stalled after the initial contractor became insolvent. It was revived in 2023, but further delays arose due to disruptions from local business forums demanding subcontracting beyond the regulated 5% community participation threshold.
Meyer clarified, “While community inclusion is important, this project requires highly specialised skills. Not every task can be subcontracted locally when the work involves clinical precision and advanced technical standards. This often leads to misunderstandings at community level.”
Despite these challenges, the project is back on track and expected to be completed by May 2026.
“This is not just another construction project — it is an investment in saving lives. Once completed, this facility will position KwaZulu-Natal as a leader in the fight against TB, offering world-class care to patients from across the province and the country,” Meyer concluded.
