Premier Zamani Saul officially opens the nurses’ student accommodation facility in Kimberley.
Image: Northern Cape Provincial Government
NORTHERN Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul officially opened a state-of-the-art nurses’ student accommodation facility in Kimberley this week, marking a significant milestone in the province’s commitment to strengthening health-care education and infrastructure.
The R305 million facility, which currently accommodates 64 students, is expected to expand to 320 students once it reaches full capacity.
The Premier was joined by the MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, at the launch on March 6, where he highlighted the importance of investing in student housing to ensure a well-trained and well-supported future health-care workforce for the Northern Cape.
Delivering his 2025 State of the Province Address (Sopa) at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley later that day, Saul reminded attendees that this project was first announced in the 2020 Sopa, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to seeing it through despite various challenges.
"This morning, Honourable Speaker, I was with the MEC for Health for the official opening of the state-of-the-art and modern nurses’ student accommodation," Saul stated in his 2025 Sopa. "As you all would remember, I made announcements in the Sopa of 2020 that work on this project would begin."
The premier stressed that providing high-quality accommodation for health-care students is a crucial step in addressing staff shortages and skills development in the province’s health-care sector.
Premier Zamani Saul was joined by the MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, at the launch on March 6.
Image: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Saul also revealed that the second phase of the project, which will cost approximately R500 million, is already in progress. This phase will significantly expand the facility, providing students and staff with access to:
The expansion will transform the facility into a fully-fledged academic hub, enhancing health-care education and ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary skills and resources to excel in their training.
In his address to students, Saul urged them to take care of the facility, ensuring that it remains in excellent condition for future generations.
He noted that this is a place that will house, educate, and prepare them for a future in the health-care profession and that it is up to them to protect it, maintain it, and ensure that it remains a centre of excellence.
The facility currently accommodates 64 students and is expected to expand to 320 students once it reaches full capacity.
Image: Northern Cape Provincial Government
The launch of this accommodation facility aligns with broader government efforts to bolster the province’s health-care sector, particularly in rural and underserved areas. With Northern Cape hospitals and clinics often facing staffing shortages, Saul emphasised that investing in health-care education and training facilities will ensure a steady pipeline of qualified nurses and health-care professionals in the coming years.
The initiative also supports the government’s goal of expanding access to education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring that aspiring health-care workers have the support they need to focus on their studies without the burden of inadequate housing or long commutes.
With the first phase complete and Phase 2 already in progress, the Northern Cape provincial government is on track to deliver a world-class health-care training facility that will benefit not only students but the province’s health-care system as a whole.
As Saul reaffirmed, this investment is about building a sustainable future - one where students are empowered, health-care services are strengthened, and the province moves closer to its vision of a thriving, well-resourced medical sector.
The facility currently accommodates 64 students and the second phase of the project is already in progress.
Image: Northern Cape Provincial Government
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