Ronald McDonald House Charities expands South African facility

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) South Africa has launched a R20 million (US$1.20 million) expansion of the Mother’s Lodge at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. The project aims to increase capacity from 15 bedrooms for 30 mothers to 36 bedrooms for 72 mothers to support families with infants requiring specialized neonatal care.

Scheduled to open in 2027, the three-storey facility will include en-suite bathrooms, communal dining, kitchen facilities, laundry services, Wi-Fi, and psychosocial support. RMHC is currently seeking an additional R3 million (US$180,600) to close the funding gap. The hospital treats approximately 60,000 maternity patients annually, many of whom travel long distances to remain near newborns in critical care.