Madam Deputy Speaker, in response to the President's call in his state of the nation address for critical social infrastructure, KwaZulu-Natal is going to be building four health care centres worth R150 million: in Jozini, Umzimkhulu and Pomeroy, as well as neonatal and labour wards at Stanger Hospital. These projects will help to create jobs and deliver better services to the community.
Future projects identified include the refurbishing of a Durban regional laundry worth R171 million and an outpatient department, as well as casualty wards at Estcourt Hospital worth R141 million. An amount of R1,6 billion will also be spent on the new Dr Pixley ka Seme Regional Hospital in the INK area, which comprises Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu.
The job-creation figures for these massive projects could see the employment of about 400 artisans, with 215 posts having been advertised already. The filling of these posts will improve the capacity within the department and maintain infrastructure projects. We are pleased that the department of health in KwaZulu-Natal has so far spent 78% of the total allocation and that it hopes to spend the remainder of the budget by the end of the financial year. Thank you. [Applause.]