The R87.41m facility is the second of three APUs planned for the Western Cape this year, following the opening of the first at Eerste River Hospital in July. Designed specifically around the needs of psychiatric patients, the unit aims to provide safer, more dignified care in an environment that supports recovery.
Hospital staff, management and community members joined Health Minister Mireille Wenger and Infrastructure Minister Tertuis Simmers to mark the opening at a ceremony.
Wenger said the improved environment will mean a great deal for patients, families and healthcare workers moving forward.
“This space will be a symbol of hope and mean greater dignity and safety for people experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Families can feel reassured that their loved ones will receive appropriate treatment in an environment designed to protect their wellbeing and support their recovery.”
Like the unit at Eerste River Hospital, the Khayelitsha APU has been designed as part of the therapeutic environment itself. Natural light, well-ventilated wards, two secure courtyards and carefully planned patient areas help create calmer spaces that support recovery and enhance safety. Patient-care areas are separated from operational and maintenance spaces to enable uninterrupted care and a more dignified patient experience.
“As the Khayelitsha District Hospital Board, we welcome this APU and recognise it as an important investment in the health and wellbeing of our community. However, no facility can address this challenge alone.
"Mental health is everybody’s responsibility. Let the opening of this APU strengthen our collective commitment to building a Khayelitsha where people can seek help without fear or judgement,” said Sabelo Mbolompo, chairperson of the Khayelitsha District Hospital Board.
Demand for mental-health services has increased significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic. The three APU projects form part of the Western Cape Government’s response to increase access to mental healthcare services and improve the environments in which acute psychiatric care is delivered.
Minister Simmers said, "This unit is a testament to what targeted public investment can achieve, delivering a world-class, purpose-built facility that puts dignity, safety, and healing at the heart of healthcare. Beyond the infrastructure itself, this project directly empowered the local economy, exceeding our local labour and small-business targets to ensure that the construction process truly benefited the Khayelitsha community."
Minister Wenger thanked the infrastructure- and health-project teams, hospital management and staff who helped deliver the unit.
“This is the second of three important acute psychiatric units that we will celebrate this year. Each represents our commitment to ensuring that people experiencing acute mental-health conditions receive compassionate, dignified and appropriate care,” concluded Wenger.
