Cause of Tembisa Hospital Fire Still Unknown – MMC Nkomo-Ralehoko

Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital (TPTH)’s Accident and
Emergency Unit after it caught fire late on 19 April 2025 afternoon

The cause of the fire that rocked the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital on the East Rand (Ekurhuleni) on Saturday evening is still unknown at this stage.

This is according to MEC for Health in Gauteng Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.

Addressing the media on Sunday afternoon, Nkomo-Ralehoko explained that the fire broke out in the Accident and Emergency unit of the hospital and that as a result 2 patients were immediately sent to the Intensive Care Unit, 1 to High Care Unit, 4 were discharged, 17 transferred to other hospitals, 50 were taken to the Tembisa hospital Antenatal unit while 7 patients walked out of the hospital upon realising that it was on fire.

No fatalities have been reported at this stage.

“The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development has confirmed that they have the latest latest maintenance record for the fire detection system and at the moment no one knows what the cause of the fire incident is, and there are several investigations underway by several institutions as required by the law,” revealed Nkomo-Ralehoko.

“These institutions include the SAPS forensic investigators, the Department of Employment and Labour inspectors, City of Ekurhuleni fire department as well as our own internal departmental investigation,” she explained.

MEC for Health in Gauteng Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko addressing the media at the Tembisa Hospital on Sunday afternoon

Nkomo-Ralehoko’s explanation comes after claims by ActionSA alleging that the Tembisa Hospital has long been struggling with health and safety compliance coupled with poor maintenance.