South Africa’s private healthcare sector is set for a major administrative shift in June 2026, after Momentum Health confirmed that it has secured the tender to administer services for Bonitas Medical Fund, one of the country’s largest open medical schemes.
The transfer, which takes effect from the start of June 2026, has been described by Momentum Health as the most extensive movement of a medical scheme between administrators in the industry’s history.
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In practical terms, the appointment will see Momentum Health assume responsibility for a wide range of administrative functions, reshaping the operational structure behind the scheme.
Commenting on the development, Momentum Health Chief Executive Officer Hannes Viljoen said;
“We are honoured to have been selected as the preferred healthcare administration partner for Bonitas Medical Fund. It represents a significant milestone for us and reinforces our position as a credible, trusted partner in South Africa’s evolving healthcare ecosystem. We look forward to contributing meaningfully to the scheme’s strategic objectives and the overall well-being of its members.”
Viljoen also pointed to the scale of the transaction, noting that the agreement will add more than 750 000 beneficiaries to Momentum Health’s administration portfolio.
This will increase the group’s total health beneficiaries in Africa to over 3.3 million, and globally to more than 25 million.
“We are strategically and operationally positioned to deliver value in a meaningful and impactful way,” he added.
Moreover, Bonitas remains the second-largest open medical scheme in South Africa and a long-established name in the private healthcare market. Against this backdrop, Momentum Health’s appointment signals more than a routine administrative change. It reflects a broader repositioning within the sector, where medical schemes are increasingly prioritising scale, efficiency, technological capability and improved service delivery.
Bonitas Principal Officer, Lee Callakoppen, welcomed the appointment, saying;
“We are delighted to cement this relationship with Momentum Health, who have demonstrated that they have the necessary capabilities to exceed expectations and support us in our strategic growth objectives.”
However, Bonitas has positioned the transition as more than a change in service provider.
The scheme has highlighted its internal growth and strengthened operational position over the past 18 months, during which more than 80 000 new families joined Bonitas. This has been accompanied by improved financial sustainability compared with previous years.
Within this context, the administrative transfer is being framed as a strategic step aimed at supporting further growth and long-term operational improvement, rather than a corrective measure.
“We see this appointment as a strategic enabler to challenge the status quo – and drive value optimisation to continue leading the healthcare industry. Our aim is to optimise efficiencies, achieve mass enrolment, and meaningfully contribute to the shaping of private healthcare in South Africa,” Callakoppen said.
She added that the decision also reflects broader changes in the healthcare operating environment.
“Healthcare needs are evolving, consumer expectations are changing, and the pressures facing South Africans are intensifying. To remain relevant and continue delivering value, healthcare organisations need to become more agile, responsive and better equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving environment,” she said.
The transition follows a governance-led procurement process designed to assess administrative capability, technological readiness, compliance strength and cost efficiency across shortlisted providers.
Furthermore, Momentum Health is understood to have performed strongly across the evaluation criteria, particularly in relation to operational systems, data integrity frameworks and member service delivery capacity.
“We have a responsibility to ensure we remain responsive to changing market realities while always acting in the best interests of our members,” Callakoppen said.
She added that engagement has already taken place with members, brokers, healthcare providers and corporate clients to help prepare stakeholders for the transition.
Looking ahead, the operational shift is expected to influence several service delivery touchpoints.
Members may experience changes in digital engagement platforms and communication channels, while brokers and employers could benefit from more integrated administrative systems, including streamlined contribution processing and improved reconciliation mechanisms.
Beyond the transaction itself, the development points to wider movement within South Africa’s private healthcare sector.
Medical schemes continue to operate under pressure from affordability constraints, rising healthcare costs and an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
In this climate, large-scale administrative consolidation and technology-led service delivery are becoming increasingly important to how schemes structure their long-term operating models.
While both Momentum Health and Bonitas have framed the arrangement around collaboration, capability and long-term value creation, its practical impact will become clearer once implementation begins in June 2026 and the transition moves from planning into full operational delivery.
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