I have medical aid so I get 21 days a year for free at any private hospital or private psychiatric hospital for my diagnosed mental illness. If I need additional days my psychiatrist can write a letter to my medical aid and request more. One day amounts to about R3800, converted to dollars would be $270.

If you don't have medical aid you go to a public mental health institution. If you have to be admitted involuntarily it is free. Otherwise you are liable for payment in terms of the uniform patient fees schedule and it is roughly R200 per day - $14. But I have worked at some of those institutions... and you really don't want to go there...