Health MEC Hon Sicelo Gqobana officially handed over the R1,6 billion worth project to upgrade the Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital at a Sod Turning ceremony in Mdantsane on the 31st of May 2011.
The project which came into being in 2006 after the department requested Coega Development Corporation to come up with a business plan to upgrade the hospital, and this CDC had to do it in one week.
Dr Mabula from Coega described the excitement that the project brought to them as they started to prepare the business plan. "It was a Friday afternoon when we got that call but we had a meeting right away", said Dr Mabula.
The project which has been divided into phases is now in its fourth phase of seven and is scheduled for completion in 2013.
Dr Mabula also announced that out of the three companies chosen for the project, two are local companies, which is indeed very exciting.
MEC Sicelo Gqobana said the reason behind entering into a partnership with Couga is mainly because the department ought to revamp institutions like Cecilia Makiwane. "We will not rest until CMH is built into a modern hospital and primary healthcare is rendered efficiently", the MEC said.
The purpose of the revamp is to serve the people of Mdantsane using the department as a tool.
Mawande Naki who is a member of the hospital board and as well as organized labour extended a word of gratitude to the MEC and the department for the project, "we are indeed very thankful of this intervention made to improve the institution and the lives of the people of Mdantsane", Naki said.
"If there was ever a time we have to say thank you to the people of Mdantsane for sacrificing everything for the struggle, now is the moment", Gqobana said.