RH Bophelo wants to be biggest healthcare group in SA in 5-10 years: Zunga

South Africa’s first black-owned and managed healthcare listed company, RH Bophelo, has recently made significant strides in the industry with the acquisition of Netcare hospitals including Netcare Rand Hospital and Netcare Bell Street Hospital. Quinton Zunga, the CEO of RH Bophelo, joined CNBC Africa to discuss the company's latest business venture. Zunga expressed his excitement about the recent acquisition, emphasizing that it has been a long time coming for the company. He mentioned that RH Bophelo continues to make acquisitions as part of its strategy to become the premier healthcare company in South Africa. With 30 hospitals in its portfolio, including seven under the listed company, RH Bophelo aims to expand its reach and provide affordable healthcare services to South Africans in the next three to five years. During the interview, Zunga revealed that the acquisition of the Netcare hospitals was valued at 124 million. He explained that Netcare was compelled to dispose of the hospitals by the Competition Commission after the acquisition of Akiso. RH Bophelo's proposal for the hospitals was well received, leading to the successful acquisition. When asked about the company's ambitions, Zunga expressed their hunger for growth in the healthcare sector. He stated that RH Bophelo aspires to become the largest hospital group in South Africa within the next 5 to 10 years. Zunga emphasized the importance of not just being a hospital company but a solution provider that focuses on empowering consumers with access to quality healthcare services. RH Bophelo's approach involves creating alternative access points to healthcare beyond traditional health insurance. By offering investment and insurance products that provide affordable access to healthcare infrastructure, the company aims to revolutionize the healthcare industry and cater to the needs of the consumer. As the conversation shifted towards the National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative in South Africa, Zunga saw it as a significant opportunity for RH Bophelo to expand its infrastructure. With plans to build a hundred hospitals in the next five to ten years, the company aims to play a pivotal role in providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to a larger portion of the South African population. Zunga's vision for RH Bophelo aligns with a consumer-centric approach that focuses on addressing the current challenges in the healthcare system. By investing in infrastructure and exploring innovative access points, RH Bophelo is set to make a substantial impact on the healthcare landscape in South Africa.