By Charmaine Ndlela
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba has given a contractor until 15 April to complete the long-delayed renal and dialysis ward at Letaba Hospital in Nkowankowa, near Tzaneen, saying that failure to meet the deadline will result in termination.
Ramathuba, who visited the facility this week with Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego, said the project must be completed by mid-April, with full handover expected by the end of the month.
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“I can work without an office, but a hospital cannot function without a specialised ward such as a renal and dialysis unit,” she said.
She said that the project has remained stuck at 90% completion since 2023, despite a budget allocation of R28 million for renal and dialysis wards at both Letaba Hospital and Tshilidzini Hospital.
“I am here to terminate the contractor and we are ready for any legal challenge. We can lose the money, but we cannot continue losing lives due to the lack of a ward and an incomplete project,” Ramathuba said.
She said delays at Letaba Hospital have forced patients to travel long distances to Mankweng Hospital at least three times a week for life-saving dialysis treatment.
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Ramathuba said the contractor allegedly stopped work in 2024 while demanding payment for work not done.
She said the government was prepared to appoint a new contractor if the current one failed to meet the deadline.
“The contractor must be fired, and a new one appointed to complete the work. We are ready to fight this in court,” she said.
The visit comes amid growing complaints from patients, particularly on social media, about limited access to renal dialysis services in the Mopani district.
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Patients have also raised concerns about the limited number of dialysis machines at Polokwane Provincial Hospital, saying many are unable to access free treatment.
“While progress at Letaba remains stalled, the renal ward at Tshilidzini Hospital — handled by a different contractor is expected to be commissioned by the end of April 2026,” Ramathuba said.
The department has begun appointing staff for the Letaba unit as part of efforts to decentralise renal dialysis services to regional hospitals, it said.