According to Gauteng’s Health MEC, security-related expenditure in Gauteng’s public hospitals has increased from R655 million in 2022 to a massive R2.54 billion in 2025, a near fourfold increase in just three years. This sharp rise in spend reflects growing concerns for public and private healthcare facilities across the country as they face growing pressure to protect expensive medical equipment and medication, as well as the people who depend on them.
“Functioning, safe and secure healthcare facilities are important to every community in South Africa. In both rural and urban areas, clinics and hospitals are dealing with more patients, more compliance requirements and more valuable resources than ever. This means physical security should be part of a broad security strategy that ensures facilities can provide safe and efficient healthcare,” says Damian Judge, Sales and Marketing Executive at Trellidor.
From emergency departments and psychiatric units to pharmacies, storerooms, and staff rooms, physical access control is a vital component of hospital infrastructure. According to Judge, the right barriers serve as both a practical deterrent to theft and unauthorised entry, and as a source of reassurance for healthcare workers and patients alike. And they have the advantage of not being an onerous recurring monthly cost.
“Physical barriers give healthcare facilities control over their environment. They are proven as crime prevention barriers, support compliance measures, create safer spaces and help restore a sense of calm in what are often high-stress environments,” explains Judge.
As security risks remain top of mind in every sector of South Africa’s economy, many hospitals and clinics are adopting a layered approach that combines technology, personnel, and architectural enhancements. This includes custom-designed, hygienic, and secure systems that can be fitted in pharmacies (to comply with drug scheduling laws), safe food preparation areas, or reinforced external doors and windows without compromising airflow or aesthetics.
Trellidor has worked with facilities such as King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban and Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto, installing barriers that have helped deter theft and safeguard vulnerable patients. At CHOC House, a facility supporting families of children undergoing cancer treatment, the installation of security gates contributed to a greater sense of comfort and safety for parents staying on-site.
Judge says it’s important that healthcare facilities work with a provider that can design a solution that fits seamlessly into the facility’s broader operational needs, from consultation and product selection to installation and aftercare. In addition, clinics and hospitals may need to consider different security solutions for specific areas, which may include fixed and retractable gates, see-through security screens, and roller shutters that are made-to-measure.
“From medical staff working the night shift and vulnerable patients to scheduled medication and surgical equipment, healthcare facilities shouldn’t have to face tough choices about who and what to protect. A well-planned physical security strategy is a smart investment in peace of mind and uninterrupted care.”