Auditor‑General Visits CHBAH Cancer Facility in Progress
On 17 April 2025, the Auditor‑General made a landmark visit to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) to inspect progress since the raft foundation was poured and cured, and to mark the transition into brickwork and bunker‑wall construction.
Unicore Holdings Project Supervisor Theren Mohan and PMO Coordinator Tariq Issel, together with DBSA Project Manager Dumi Zitha and Miss Happy Jacobs GDoH, guided the inspection, presenting every detail of the design and build.
Theren Mohan explained how the facility not only meets international best‑practice standards but also pioneers a forward‑looking integration of nuclear medicine and radionuclide therapy alongside external‑beam radiotherapy
Equipment & Functional Layout
The new turnkey design‑build facility will open with two fully outfitted treatment bunkers, each housing a state‑of‑the‑art medical linear accelerator (LINAC) capable of sub‑millimeter beam accuracy.
Adjoining CT‑based treatment‑planning suites and MRI rooms support advanced image‑guided radiotherapy techniques, while space is reserved for two additional bunkers to accommodate future expansion.
A dedicated nuclear‑medicine wing will feature in‑house diagnostic PET/CT scanning and therapeutic radionuclide suites, seamlessly integrating molecular imaging with treatment workflows.
Surrounding these core areas are brachytherapy rooms, consultation and multidisciplinary conference spaces, patient‑change and recovery areas, and a comfortable waiting lounge—each function thoughtfully arranged to maximize clinical efficiency and patient dignity.
Bunker Construction & Radiation Shielding
Each treatment vault is encased in up to three meters of reinforced concrete – meeting, and in many cases, exceeding international radiation‑protection standards and SAHPRA certification.
Access is routed through a stepped, labyrinthine corridor that eliminates any direct line‑of‑sight to the treatment volume. Heavy‑duty, lead‑lined door plugs interlock with control panels to ensure the beam can only be activated once every safety condition is satisfied.
All service penetrations, power conduits, ventilation ducts, and piping are fitted with custom lead‑lined sleeves and multiple gasket seals.
Continuous area‑monitoring and emergency‑shutdown systems stand ready to detect and halt any stray radiation, safeguarding staff, patients, and the public without compromise.
Vision & Legacy
This facility is more than concrete. It’s a bold statement of intent, marrying proven bunker engineering with cutting‑edge nuclear medicine. As part of the expanding Gauteng cancer‑care network, it will serve as a treatment center, living classroom and research incubator—training future oncologists, physicists and radiographers, and hosting trials to elevate care across Africa. Most importantly, it puts the patient first: Batho Pele – Patient First.