KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has reaffirmed the provincial government's commitment to strengthening health care and education, describing both sectors as fundamental to economic growth and social development.
Delivering the State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Pietermaritzburg on Friday, Ntuli said improving education and healthcare is one of the administration's eight strategic priorities.
“No economy can grow and no society can progress without a healthy and educated population,” he said.
Despite fiscal constraints, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health continues to prioritize service delivery, guided by Batho Pele principles. The province's approach focuses on improving health literacy, disease prevention, access to services, treatment adherence and strengthening long-term health system resilience.
In January 2026, the department reached a milestone by formally employing more than 4000 community health workers on a full-time basis for the first time. The move restores job security and stability for frontline workers while strengthening community-based health services.
The Premier also highlighted the success of the Ikhemisi Aduze Nwe (A Chemist Closer to Your Home) program, through which over 1.1 million active patients now collect old medicines close to where they live. This initiative has reduced transportation costs, reduced crowding at health facilities, and improved continuity of care.
Ntuli is committed to expanding medication pick-up points and strengthening partnerships to reach more communities.
Shift toward prevention and improvement in HIV outcomes
The provincial government has intensified its healthy lifestyle program, promoting physical activity, improving nutrition and reducing the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
Through community outreach initiatives such as Isibhedlela Kubuntu (hospital for the people), wellness activities and school engagements, the province is strengthening prevention efforts against communicable diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, as well as non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Ntuli described this approach as a deliberate shift from a curative to a preventive health care model.
The province has also recorded continued improvements in HIV prevention and treatment, with more than 1.57 million people currently on antiretroviral treatment across the province.
Through the #CloseTheGap campaign, more than 210,000 patients who lapsed were detected and brought back into care.
“As a result, KwaZulu-Natal is no longer the leading contributor to new HIV infections nationally,” Ntuli said, describing the development as an important milestone in epidemic control.
Infrastructure upgrades and emergency services
Infrastructure renewal remains central to improving patient experience and service delivery.
The Premier highlighted that over the past two fiscal years, a number of clinics have been renovated and upgraded, including the Kwaka Replacement Clinic, Newtown Clinic and Sokhela Clinic, strengthening the province's primary healthcare platform.
Maintenance initiatives including generator installation, boreholes, improved lighting, perimeter fencing, sewer upgrades and roof replacement have increased safety and reliability at the facilities.
Construction work continues at the Mapafala Medium Clinic, Nyawini Clinic and Mpolweni Small Clinic, while the designs of the Umtubatuba Community Health Center and Vreeheide Mortuary are being finalised.
Ntuli said the province is committed to modernizing facilities and expanding capacity in high-demand areas despite budget pressures.
Emergency medical services have been strengthened by adding 44 new ambulances, and there are plans to purchase more than 60 additional ambulances in 2026.
During the last financial year, over 240 nurses and over 238 doctors were appointed, with a focus on recruitment into key clinical positions to stabilize facilities and reduce workload pressures.
Through Operation Sukuma Sakhe and the District Development Model, the province continues to strengthen outreach at the household level, connecting vulnerable households to health care and social services. Efforts to improve queue management, staff accountability and patient engagement are also being intensified along with stronger monitoring of service standards and complaint resolution.
investment in education
Turning to education, Ntuli said the KwaZulu-Natal fiscal framework is based on provincial equitable sharing, with allocations over the medium-term expenditure framework to progressively equalize remuneration for Grade R teachers following the inclusion of Grade R in compulsory basic education.
He announced that the education sector will receive R70.068 million in 2026/27 from the Presidential Employment Incentive for Teacher Assistant Programme. Under conditional grants from the same programme, the allocation amounts in the medium term are R270.510 million, R915.263 million and R932.934 million.
Early childhood development has been allocated R133.3 million, while education infrastructure grants amount to R55.8 million.
Ntuli said these investments are aimed at strengthening basic education, expanding employment opportunities and ensuring that healthcare and education systems are equipped to support inclusive growth across the province. – sanews.gov.za