KUGOMPO CITY- Frere Hospital in KuGompo City has appointed 36-year-old emergency medicine specialist Dr Johnré Else in a move aimed at strengthening one of the Eastern Cape’s busiest emergency departments.
The appointment was announced on Friday, 08 August 2026 marking Else’s return to the hospital a decade after he completed his internship there.
Else completed his specialist training in the Western Cape and returns to the Eastern Cape at a time when public hospitals across the province are grappling with staff shortages and increasing patient numbers.
Frere Hospital is the main referral facility for Buffalo City Metro and surrounding districts. Its Emergency Department handles hundreds of patients each day, including trauma victims and critically ill patients referred from clinics and smaller hospitals.
“I started my journey here and fell in love with emergency medicine at this facility. I’m back to help improve care in the Eastern Cape, specifically at Frere and within Buffalo City Metro,” Else said.
Else studied at the University of the Free State before beginning his internship at Frere. After completing his community service in Prince Albert, he returned to Frere as a medical officer before moving to the Western Cape to pursue specialist training.
Furthmore, his immediate priorities include reducing waiting times and ensuring that patients receive safe and quality treatment from the moment they arrive at the emergency department.
“Patient care comes first. We want every patient who arrives at our Emergency Department to receive safe, high-quality treatment. We also need to train staff and build systems that can handle the load,” he said.
Else also plans to establish postgraduate specialist training at Frere, saying the Eastern Cape needs to develop and retain its own specialists.
“We need to grow our own specialists here in the Eastern Cape. If we train doctors locally, they are more likely to stay and serve our communities,” he added.
The specialist said his plans extend beyond Frere Hospital. He intends to support referring hospitals through outreach programmes and mentorship to improve patient care before referrals reach the tertiary facility.
“My goal is to provide the best care in the region and to develop Frere into a leading training centre. We also need to help referring hospitals so patients get the right treatment before they even reach us,” Else said.
In addition Frere Hospital Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Sicelo Msi said the appointment could have a direct impact on patients using the facility.
“Having a dedicated A&E specialist makes a difference. It brings speed, expertise, and structure to the department. That can mean shorter stays and fewer complications for patients,” Msi said.
For thousands of patients from Buffalo City and surrounding areas who depend on Frere Hospital for specialised care, the emergency department’s performance in the coming months is likely to be the clearest measure of the impact of Else’s appointment.
His return also signals a broader effort to strengthen specialist training, improve referral systems and build long-term medical capacity in the Eastern Cape.
Photograph: Frere hospital
Siphosethu Rexe
12 August 2026
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