Quality of safety inspections questioned after Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire People who were there on the night of the fire have told Eyewitness News that it appeared that the sprinklers at the hospital were not working and also claiming that smoke control doors in passageways appeared to have been removed. A fire broke out at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg on Friday, 16 April 2021. Picture: Twitter/@GautengHealth
2 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG - Independent experts have raised serious concerns about the quality of safety inspections at old buildings following the fire that broke out at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.
People who were there on the night of the fire have told Eyewitness News that it appeared that the sprinklers at the hospital were not working and also claiming that smoke control doors in passageways appeared to have been removed.
Nehawu, DA call for speedy investigation into Charlotte Maxeke fire Updated
Martine van der Walt Ehlers
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There have been widespread calls for an immediate investigation into the devestating fire at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg.
The blaze has lead to the temporary closure of the facility.
The fire started on Friday in a storeroom at the hospital with melting plastic and medical supplies, causing flames to re-ignite a day later.
On Saturday, Gauteng Premier David Makhura visited the hospital and announced that the facility will be closed for seven days.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) says the fact that the fire raged on for many hours proves that occupational safety measures are not adequately adhered to at the hospital.
Scores of patients are being evacuated from the Charlotte Maxeke hospital in Johannesburg as firefighters from across the Gauteng province battle a blaze sweeping through the facility