EAST LONDON- The Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC, Ntandokazi Capa officially welcomed 50 newly appointed healthcare professionals at Frere Tertiary Hospital in East London on 02 February 2026 marking a significant milestone in strengthening clinical and management capacity at one of the province’s key tertiary hospitals.
The appointments form part of the Department’s Annual Recruitment Plan (ARP), which targets critical posts to address staffing shortages across the public health system.
The recruitment drive was funded through a combination of the National Tertiary Services Grant (NTSG) and Ministerial funding, with Frere Tertiary Hospital achieving 100% appointment of all identified critical posts.
Breakdown of the newly appointed staff: 1 Senior Manager: Medical Services- 2 Heads of Department- 2 Heads of Clinical Units- 4 Clinical Specialists (2 Paediatrics, 1 General Surgery and 1 Anaesthetics)- 11 Medical Doctors- 24 Nurses, including 1 Area Manager for Outpatient Departments- 6 Allied Health Professionals (4 Physiotherapists, 1 Speech Therapist and 1 Occupational Therapist).
In total, 50 healthcare professionals have been appointed to reinforce service delivery, leadership and specialist care at the hospital.
Furthermore, Frere Tertiary Hospital is a specialist referral hospital serving the Central Region of the Eastern Cape, covering the districts of Amathole, Buffalo City, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi with a drainage population of approximately 3.2 million people.
The hospital has 868 approved beds across 35 active wards and attends to an average of 23 000 outpatients and 20 000 inpatients per month, amounting to more than 100 000 patients per quarter.
Despite facing staffing challenges, the hospital recorded a bed utilisation rate of 73.4%, above the national norm of 63.9%, underscoring the pressure placed on clinical services and the urgency of strengthening human resources.
Speaking at the welcoming engagement, MEC Capa said the appointments represent a decisive step towards stabilising and improving healthcare delivery at Frere and across the province. “These appointments demonstrate the department’s commitment to rebuilding capacity, filling long‑standing vacancies and ensuring that our hospitals are adequately staffed to meet the healthcare needs of our communities,” said MEC Capa.
The appointment of the Senior Manager; Medical Services is expected to further strengthen clinical governance and oversight at the institution.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health said the successful implementation of the ARP at Frere Tertiary Hospital reflects ongoing engagements with National Treasury and provincial leadership to secure sustainable solutions to staffing challenges in the public health sector.
Photograph: supplied
