South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members stationed along the West Coast will no longer have to travel more than 130 kilometres to Cape Town for basic medical treatment following the official opening of the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) Saldanha Sick Bay.
The new primary healthcare facility, officially opened on 24 July by the Surgeon General of the SANDF, Lieutenant General Ntshavheni Maphaha, is expected to significantly improve access to healthcare for military personnel while strengthening the operational readiness of defence units in the region.
The clinic will serve members of the South African Navy, South African Air Force, Special Forces and military veterans based in and around Saldanha Bay and Langebaan.
Speaking at the launch, Lt Gen Maphaha said the facility forms part of the SANDF’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare closer to where soldiers live and work.
“Today we are officially commissioning this facility as a fully functional sick bay. It is one of two military health facilities serving the West Coast and will provide healthcare services to members of the Navy, Air Force, Special Forces and our military veterans,” he said.
For years, military personnel in the area had to travel to Cape Town for primary healthcare services and emergency assessments. The new clinic is expected to reduce travel time, improve patient care and ease pressure on larger military hospitals.
Operating under the theme “Towards Military Health Excellence,” the facility offers a range of services including primary healthcare consultations, emergency stabilisation, nursing care, dental services, psychological support and social work assistance.
One of the clinic’s most significant features is its casualty unit, where injured or ill members can receive immediate assessment, treatment and stabilisation before being referred to specialist facilities when necessary.
Officer Commanding of the facility, Lieutenant Colonel J.L. Morupi, said the clinic will play a critical role in supporting military operations across the West Coast.
“Patients are triaged as soon as they arrive. We assess, diagnose, resuscitate and stabilise them on site. Having these services available locally means many patients can receive the care they need without having to travel to Cape Town.”
She said the facility supports a large military community that includes the South African Navy, the Military Academy, 4 Special Forces Regiment and other defence units operating in the region.
“This facility is essential because we are able to stabilise patients, monitor them for several hours if necessary and provide treatment close to their units. That improves both patient care and operational readiness.”
Lt Gen Maphaha emphasised that while the sick bay provides comprehensive primary healthcare services, it is not intended to replace a military hospital.
“This is a primary healthcare facility. Patients requiring specialised treatment or surgery will still be referred to 2 Military Hospital in Cape Town.”
The clinic currently treats an average of 60 primary healthcare patients each day—about 600 consultations per month—while its dental unit handles approximately 300 patient visits monthly.
Although the facility does not provide overnight admission, patients requiring further observation are transferred to the Langebaanweg Health Centre, while those needing specialist procedures receive referrals to higher levels of military care.
The opening of the Saldanha Sick Bay marks another milestone in the SANDF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen military healthcare services, ensuring that the men and women who serve the country have quicker access to quality medical care when they need it most
