University Of Western Cape Bellville Campus, The Faculty of Community & Health Sciences (CHS) is a centre for community-based, interdisciplinary education and research in the health and social sciences whose excellence in education and research is recognised by many international organisations. It offers qualifications in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Dietetics, Psychology, Social Work, Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, Complementary Health Sciences and Public Health.
CHS is located on UWC’s main campus, in aging facilities not intended to house the number of health disciplines offered, nor the numbers of students. None of the buildings currently used by CHS on the main campus were purpose-built research or healthcare teaching facilities and cannot accommodate modern teaching methodologies. The buildings’ design prevents expansion and space for new buildings on the main campus and is constricted by neighbouring residential areas, a nature reserve and Bellrail, a Spoornet storage facility.
UWC therefore acquired the former JS Marais Hospital in the Bellville central business district (CBD) to expand the infrastructure for the health disciplines offered by the faculty (the University already occupies part of nearby Tygerberg Hospital).
The University will transform the JS Marais building into the Bellville Medical Centre, a state-of-theart teaching facility. On completion, the Bellville Medical Centre (BMC) will provide students of four departments (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Natural Medicine) with a high-quality education that will encourage an inter-disciplinary approach and greater collaboration within the Faculty.
At least 1 600 undergraduate and 250 postgraduate students will be taught annually at the BMC. The new building will add dedicated skills and exercise laboratories, relieving pressure on teaching space on the main campus with the addition of 2 000m2 of learning space and 3 700m2 of laboratory space, as well as office accommodation and facilities for staff and postgraduate students. Faculty departments remaining on the main campus will expand into the vacated spaces, alleviating their current space problems.
The Bellville Medical Centre will stimulate urban regeneration by encouraging further consolidation of the medical precinct in the Bellville CBD and the development of student accommodation, stimulating the local economy through student demand for services such as transport and entertainment.
The City of Cape Town is already investing considerable resources in upgrading services and bulk infrastructure in the area. Access to healthcare for the communities of Bellville and the adjacent Cape Flats will also improve through the planned cooperation between the Bellville Medical Centre and the Bellville community health clinic.
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST: R175 000 000
UWC CONTRIBUTION: R75 000 000
ESTIMATED FUNDING REQUIRED: R100 000 000