SA’s first ‘police hospital’ opens for Covid-19 patients in Pretoria

“We now have 34 members in different quarantine sites, and this site will accommodate newly diagnosed patients,” she said. “We knew that they [officers] would be on the front line during this pandemic. It was important for us to ensure that our officers are safe during this pandemic. We are dedicating this facility to our members.”

Sitole said the facility will be turned into a hospital for police members when no longer needed for dealing with Covid-19.

“The hospital is part of a long-term plan and part of the SAPS turnaround vision. We plan to have a police hospital in 2021. The steering committee is further looking at other facilities that will serve our members. We will also look into another additional facility,” he said.

“While we are all grappling with Covid, police are still faced with the responsibility of dealing with criminals, which also exposes our officers to the virus.”

Dr Nkateko Munisi, chair of the advisory board of the RH group and non-executive director of hospitals, said the facility was well-equipped, like any other private hospital.

“For now the facility has been prepared to accommodate 45 members for isolation purposes. We have different wards for female and male but it is fully fledged, well equipped, with the standard of any private facility — but strictly for police officers,” he said.

TimesLIVE

By Shonisani Tshikalange – TimesLIVE