The Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre (OPC) in Pinelands launched a new in-house 3D scanning and printing service for customised spinal braces on 5 November 2026, coinciding with International Prosthetics and Orthotics Day. The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed the innovation aims to reduce production time drastically and improve patient comfort, making the facility one of the first government healthcare centres to offer this service.
The OPC, the only public-sector orthotic centre in the Western Cape located on Forest Drive, now produces spinal braces using 3D scanning, digital design, and 3D printing technology. This new method shortens the manufacturing period from two to three weeks under the traditional plaster casting system to just 24 to 48 hours, according to the department.
Facility manager Bongani Mlambo said, “This new technology is going to change patients’ lives, their dignity will be respected, and it is more cost-effective.” He added, “It tells us that OPC is really the leader in the rehabilitation environment.”
The department describes the 3D-printed braces as lighter, more precise, and more comfortable than conventional models. The service is available to patients suffering from scoliosis, pectus carinatum, tuberculosis of the spine, spinal compression fractures, and spondylosis.
Nashita Stellenboom, a patient from Pelican Heights who was diagnosed with thoracic scoliosis over four years ago, has already benefited from the new technology. Her mother, Nailah Stellenboom, said, “We thought let’s go with the brace, which is helping her a lot.” Nashita told CapeFlats.co.za, “Now that I am wearing a brace, I am able to do sport, and be more active. I don’t have to be a couch potato anymore.”
While peer-reviewed studies from 2022 indicate 3D-printed spinal orthoses can offer postural stability similar to traditional braces with reduced manual labour and less material waste, long-term clinical outcomes remain under review. Still, the adoption of this technology at a public facility in Cape Town signals a move toward faster and more sustainable orthotic care for residents dependent on government health services.
The OPC launch event was attended by facility manager Bongani Mlambo, project member Muller Kotze, and provincial health officials S’thandile Khuzwayo and Carol Dean. The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has described the programme as an innovation in the public health sector, though some claims that this is the first such service in South Africa’s public system remain unconfirmed.
The rollout promises to streamline access to spinal support devices for children and adults in the Western Cape, potentially reducing wait times and improving rehabilitation outcomes across the province’s public health network.
CapeFlats.co.za will continue to follow developments around the service expansion and patient experiences as 3D orthoses become more widely available at the Pinelands OPC.