Johannesburg – President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised a complex operation at Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo as proof of the capabilities of South Africa’s public health system, while reiterating the need to expand access to quality healthcare for all.
In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa highlighted the successful separation of conjoined twins by a team of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, describing it as a remarkable achievement.
“We owe the medical teams that performed the operation, that helped deliver the twins and that are now caring for them our deepest admiration and gratitude,” he said.
He said the operation demonstrated the strength of the country’s public healthcare system, particularly in underserved areas.
“This achievement is more than a medical milestone. It is proof of what our public health system is capable of,” Ramaphosa said, adding that South Africa has “world-class medical expertise, not only in the private hospitals in our cities, but also in public facilities serving communities that have historically been neglected and underserved.”
However, the president acknowledged persistent inequalities in access to healthcare, noting that many South Africans still struggle to receive adequate services.
Dear Fellow South African,
Last week, surgeons at Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo completed a remarkable operation. A team of doctors, nurses and other health workers successfully separated conjoined twins in a complex operation that demanded extraordinary skill and precision.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 23, 2026
“Our Constitution guarantees every person the right of access to healthcare services. That right cannot depend on where you were born, how much you earn or where you live,” he said.
Ramaphosa said bridging the gap between this constitutional right and reality is the driving force behind the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
“The NHI is more than a funding mechanism. It is a commitment… that every South African will have access to quality health services without suffering financial hardship,” he said.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private healthcare sectors, noting disparities in access and funding.
“These two parts of our health care system cannot continue to operate in parallel, as if serving two separate nations. They must work together in service of one nation,” he said.
Ramaphosa added that government is already investing in strengthening public healthcare through infrastructure upgrades, improved access to medicines, and expanded community health programmes.
Reflecting on the Mankweng operation, he said it signified the importance of supporting healthcare workers.
“We owe it to every healthcare worker to give them the support, tools and working conditions they need to do their vital work,” he said.
“The great achievement at Mankweng Hospital has shown us what is possible… Equal access to quality health care must be the standard we set and the constitutional promise that we keep.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
