Regional cancer care expanded
Cancer patients in the Eastern Cape now have access to a broader range of specialised services following the opening of a R416 million oncology centre at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha. The facility was officially opened on 29 October 2026 by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government.
The centre is intended to bring treatment closer to patients from the OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi district municipalities. For many people requiring radiation therapy, accessing care previously meant travelling to oncology hubs in KuGompo City, formerly East London, or Gqeberha. Those journeys could keep patients away from their families for extended periods while they underwent treatment.
The new facility provides chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy and specialised inpatient care. Its opening marks a significant expansion of oncology services in a province where distance has been a major practical obstacle for patients and their families. By placing these services at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, the centre also connects cancer treatment to the hospital’s wider clinical infrastructure.
Facility includes inpatient and treatment services
The oncology complex has two linear accelerator machines, which are used in radiation treatment, and includes 68 dedicated inpatient beds. The beds comprise 30 for women, 30 for men, and eight for paediatric and neonatal oncology patients.
| Facility component | Details |
|---|---|
| Inpatient capacity | 68 beds |
| Radiation equipment | Two linear accelerator machines |
| Paediatric and neonatal beds | Eight |
| Adult beds | 30 female and 30 male beds |
Patients will be able to access an outpatient department with consultation rooms, counselling spaces and resuscitation capacity. The centre also contains a specialised oncology pharmacy equipped for chemotherapy mixing and dispensing, as well as chemotherapy treatment suites, isolation rooms, procedure facilities, nursing stations and dedicated recovery areas.
A suspended link bridge joins the oncology building to the main hospital complex. According to the reported details, the connection allows patients and clinical teams to reach supporting services including radiology, laboratories, operating theatres and the Central Sterile Services Department. This arrangement places the oncology unit within the hospital’s existing network of specialised support services.
Reducing the burden of travel
The opening is particularly important for patients who have had to balance demanding treatment schedules with the cost and disruption of long-distance travel. Those affected include people from communities across the four district municipalities served by the centre. The availability of inpatient, outpatient and radiation services in Mthatha could reduce the distance between treatment and home for many Eastern Cape families.
- Radiotherapy and brachytherapy are available at the new centre.
- The facility provides chemotherapy and specialised inpatient care.
- Patients can access counselling, pharmacy, recovery and procedure services in the complex.
- The centre is linked to hospital services such as radiology, laboratories and theatres.
Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa represented the provincial government at the official opening. The project is being presented as a milestone in addressing healthcare disparities in the Eastern Cape, where patients requiring oncology treatment have historically faced significant travel demands.
For Mthatha and surrounding communities, the centre’s value will be measured not only by its equipment and bed capacity, but also by how effectively patients can reach and use the services. Its establishment provides the region with a dedicated oncology facility while reducing the need for some patients to leave the province’s central and northern districts for specialised cancer care.
