DA vows to push for accountability over Tembisa Hospital fire
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has demanded a speedy investigation and consequences for any identified failures that may have contributed to the fire at Tembisa Hospital in Ekurhuleni.
A fire broke out at the hospital's emergency unit on Saturday, 20 April. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. However, the unit remains closed.
The Gauteng Department of Health said, despite the incident, Tembisa Hospital remains operational, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
DA Gauteng spokesperson on health Jack Bloom said they're very grateful that disaster management services were able to prevent a monstrous tragedy by the speedy evacuation of patients. They should be commended.
Bloom said unfortunately, there is a history of drawn-out investigations and lack of consequences after previous hospital fires.
'While arson has been identified as the cause of the devastating fire at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital five years ago, the hospital CEO was not fired despite identified deficiencies in a report by the State Security Agency. There has also been no progress in apprehending the arsonists,' Bloom said.
Meanwhile, none of Gauteng's 37 public hospitals comply fully with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, with fire being the biggest risk, the DA also revealed.
The party said that this is according to a recent Gauteng Health Department presentation to an oversight committee in the Gauteng Legislature.
Sixteen hospitals scored less than 75% OHS compliance, mostly because of missing fire prevention and fire suppression equipment, and lack of fire signage and escape lighting.
Notably, Tembisa Hospital only scored 72% OHS compliance, the same as the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, despite their previous fire.
'Tembisa Hospital has been mismanaged and looted by fishy contracts for years now, and it does not even have a permanent CEO. A top-class CEO is urgently needed to ensure that full services are reinstated, and measures are taken to alleviate the severe overcrowding that will be worsened by the fire.
'The DA in Gauteng will push for full accountability and speedy efforts to fix Tembisa Hospital,' Bloom added.
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