The new owners of Mthatha’s oldest private hospital, the Crestcare St Mary’s Hospital, relaunched under a new name this week, are planning to turn the facility into a leading healthcare hub in the Eastern Cape.
Earlier in 2025 it was reported that the Crestcare Hospital Group, under equity investment firm Summit Africa, had acquired a 55% stake worth more than R300m in the then Life St Mary’s Private Hospital in December 2024, marking its first investment in the Eastern Cape.
It is envisaged the acquisition will lead to a significant expansion of the hospital including adding between 30 to 50 beds and introducing new specialities including a catheterisation lab and enhanced radiology services to improve local access to advanced medical care.
The expansion would create new job opportunities and contribute to the local economy as “every R1m invested in a hospital can generate an equal annual income for local SMMEs”.
Crestcare CEO Kit Wostenholm said the fast-growing private hospital group, with facilities in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape, aimed to expand to 800 beds in the next two years, focusing on peri-urban, rural and township areas.
“This first acquisition in the Eastern Cape holds transformative potential for both the hospital and the wider community.
“By investing in St Mary’s, we reaffirm our commitment to accessible, high-quality and affordable health care across SA.
“Our goal is to ensure people in Mthatha and surrounding areas have access to world-class care right on their doorstep.
“Crestcare St Mary’s will have a significant effect on healthcare accessibility in the region while supporting our broader vision of expanding into underserved areas across SA.”
Private equity partner and value-add lead at Summit Africa, Ngange Nongogo, who is originally from the Eastern Cape, said Crestcare was positioned to change the face of healthcare in the province, setting an example of how strategic investments could bring healthcare closer to those in need.
St Mary’s expansion would also create new jobs for healthcare professionals and support staff, while easing the demand for beds in other facilities in Mthatha.
It would help reduce waiting times and improve patient experiences.
On Tuesday, Nongogo said: “My mandate is to take the unbeaten path, the places that have been overlooked by corporate SA and put my flag here.
“We are in other provinces but are without a presence in the Eastern Cape. This did not make sense for our geographical footprint.”
Nongogo said Mthatha was an obvious choice because it was home to the largest private hospital in the province’s peri-urban rural areas.
At the same time, St Mary’s Private Hospital had many opportunities to expand its offering.
But despite its growth potential, it was still not covering all the needs of the surrounding community.
“So, our ambition is to take a substantial entity like this and grow it to be something that serves the community even better.”
He said despite Mthatha boasting two other private hospitals, the demand for top quality and yet affordable medical needs far exceeded what the three institutions — including Crestcare St Mary’s — could offer at present.
“The need in this community far exceeds the sum of the three private hospitals.
“Even the expansion we are looking to create here will not cope with the excess demand in this community.
“Too many patients still need to go to East London, even with these three private hospitals.”
Explaining the acquisition deal involving St Mary’s, he said Summit Africa had bought a 55% stake in the hospital and an additional 38% worth of shares from old and retiring doctors.
While it planned to keep the majority stake, it was now planning to sell the 38% stake to other doctors.
They were hoping to acquire more land to expand the hospital’s surgical ward and bring some doctors’ practice rooms into the hospital.
Plans were also afoot to acquire land for the construction of between 150 to 200 parking bays for patients, staff and doctors.
OR Tambo District Municipality deputy mayor Thandekile Sabisa, who was present at Tuesday’s official relaunch, said: “This transition is more than just a change in management — it is a renewed commitment to delivering accessible, high-quality and patient-centred health care to the people of this region.
“Health care is the foundation of any thriving society. Without a strong, accessible and well-equipped healthcare system, communities struggle, economies weaken and people suffer unnecessarily.
“We recognise the challenges facing our healthcare system, from overcrowded hospitals to the scarcity of specialised medical services in rural areas.
“The introduction of Crestcare into our healthcare ecosystem provides a much-needed boost to the capacity and quality of services available to our residents.”
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.