Police probe into fire at Tembisa Hospital's emergency unit set to stall repairs

JOHANNESBURG - Repairs to the accident and emergency unit at Tembisa Hospital are expected to stall as police probe the fire that gutted the structure at the weekend.

While more than 80 patients were evacuated from the emergency unit, patients in the hospital wards were unaffected.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

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According to Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, the hospital underwent renovations in 2023.

This included the fitting of new plumbing, vinyls, new toilets, doors and windows.

She said the fire detection systems also worked adequately at the time of the fire.

However, the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Jack Bloom is now calling for accountability in the matter.

"I think the health department must do a very urgent investigation, there must be consequences for any failures and if arson was involved, we must apprehend the culprits."

Nkomo-Ralehoko added that the investigations would continue but the hospital would also continue to operate.