On Friday, 26 September 2025, Caledon District Hospital benefited from a maintenance intervention by students and staff from Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering and Property Services. This formed part of the InReach programme, developed by Dr. Therese Fish (Vice Dean: Clinical Services and Social Impact) and Prof. Karin Baatjes (Vice Dean: Learning and Teaching), both from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS).
While FMHS students provided healthcare services, the Engineering team focused on restoring infrastructure by replacing light bulbs and repairing healthcare equipment. From the outset, the goal was clear: to improve the hospital’s facilities in meaningful ways. By all accounts, the team delivered. More than 150 light bulbs were replaced or repaired in a concentrated 60-man-hour effort, and various small medical devices were repaired and returned to service.
The impact of the intervention went far beyond technical repairs: it uplifted morale, showing staff and patients that they are valued and that their environment truly matters. “The downlights in the theatre foyer are my personal highlight,” noted Mr. Pieter Conradie of M&M, capturing the sense of satisfaction felt by the team. The overall spirit was one of gratitude and shared achievement and as the group reflected: “We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience, learned a lot along the way, and hope that our efforts have made a difference.”
InReach events like this one remind us that progress is powered not just by tools and technology, but by people, working together, learning together, and striving to make things better. The Caledon InReach team has certainly done just that providing our students an opportunity to serve a community.
A huge thank you to FMHS, Caledon Hospital, Property Services and the M&M Engineering students and staff!
Koketso Phale and Innocent Makaya replacing bulbs, 2) Keith Jonker celebrates the return of light after repairs, 3) Koketso Phale and Timon Machtelinckx hard at work.
Enrico Lubbe and Anique Phillips repairing small medical equipment
The team, consisting of M&M Engineering and Property Services, 2) The theatre foyer, now brightly illuminated.
