Saturday marks exactly a year since parts of the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital were gutted by a blaze – and the facility is nowhere near full functionality.
Structural repairs needed at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital after fire 23 April 2021 - 12:08 By TimesLIVE Damage caused by the fire at Johannesburg s Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital. Image: Freddy Mavunda
A visual assessment shows that some structural repair is required at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, after the recent fire on the dispensary side of the building.
Health minister Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday that the fire, which saw nearly 700 patients evacuated, had destroyed more than R40m worth of medical stock and personal protective equipment (PPE).
The department of infrastructure development and property management said on Friday it had conducted a visual assessment of what needs to be done.
Nehawu wants probe into Charlotte Maxeke Hospital safety measures after blaze The hospital in Parktown has been temporarily shut down for a week after the blaze burnt throughout the night on Friday and into Saturday morning. The third-floor parking at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital collapsed following a fire that began on Friday, 16 April 2021. Patients were moved and the hospital was closed for seven days. Picture: Twitter/@GautengProvince
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JOHANNESBURG - Health workers union Nehawu wants to investigate the fire safety measures in place at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital after a devastating fire ripped through parts of the facility.
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.