Following the successful launch of Integrated Public Service Month (IPSM), Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi began Day 2 of the provincial program on 6 September 2024 with an early morning visit to the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH) in Kimberley, Northern Cape.
Accompanied by the provincial Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health, Mr. Maruping Lekwene, and senior management from the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the Department of Correctional Services, Minister Buthelezi aimed to assess service delivery at RMSH.
Launched under the theme “A Government that Works For You,” the month-long program not only acknowledges the contributions of the public service but also reflects a commitment to building an efficient and effective public sector. Beyond the the launch, IPSM emphasizes actual service delivery throughout the month.
Minister Buthelezi, along with Premier Dr. Zamani Saul, conducted a roadblock on the launch day, and they also visited Rest Haven seniors’ home in Kimberley, where the Department of Correctional Services undertook cleaning and refurbishment work as part of the lead-up to the provincial launch.
The inclusion of RMSH in Day 2 of the IPSM program aimed to evaluate the hospital’s performance in delivering health services to the province’s residents. “The purpose of having Executive Authorities here is to help unlock service delivery challenges and ensure that we are improving the machinery serving the people of the Northern Cape,” explained DPSA IPSM project leader Ms. Mamello Mohamed.
Located in the heart of the “Diamond City” , Kimberly, within the Sol Plaatjie District, RMSH serves five districts in the Northern Cape. As the only tertiary hospital in the province, it offers a package of 32 health services, from clinical services to vascular surgery, with some complex services outsourced to the private sector. The hospital also functions as a primary healthcare institution due to a high number of non-critical walk-in patients, particularly in Family Medicine, which sees around 21,000 patients annually, as explained by Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. E. Olivier during the briefing.
Dr. Olivier reported that RMSH serves a population of 1.36 million people, representing 2.2% of the country’s total population. Among the performance indicators shared with the Minister, RMSH has 604 gazetted beds and 612 active beds, along with 120 additional beds in facilities outside the hospital. On average, the Accident and Emergency services handle 21,900 trauma cases, 36,254 non-trauma patients, and 9,000 cases requiring specialist medical attention annually.
The Family Medicine service, one of the first in South Africa, supports a network of primary healthcare clinics and sees about 80,000 patients each year. RMSH admits over 20,000 patients annually, with an average length of stay of 9.4 days, exceeding the national target of 5.5 days.
Accompanied by teams from the DPSA and other departments, Minister Buthelezi and MEC Lekwene toured the hospital to verify the information presented during the briefing. They interacted with patients and staff across various functional areas, including casualty, adult and pediatric ICU, and outpatient transport. The principals also inspected recent projects, including initiatives to ensure a steady water supply and a renovated clinic.
Minister Buthelezi commended the positive spirit of the RMSH team, acknowledging the challenges the institution continues to face. “It is easy to think that all is well at this hospital. The challenges were highlighted in your presentation, and you rightly pointed out the achievements,” the Minister remarked, cautioning that excessive negativity could demoralize staff and patients.
Led by the DPSA, Minister Buthelezi committed to a post-IPSM program to support RMSH in resolving identified challenges. “I know that after this visit, we will roll up our sleeves and tackle the bottlenecks and red tape making our work difficult,” stated Dr. Olivier, the Acting CEO of RMSH.
