The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla inspect the fire again at Tembisa Hospital
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla has this afternoon reassured the public of the continuation of services despite the second fire incident at the main Out Patient Department at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital earlier this morning.
Fire fighters from the City of Ekurhuleni’s Fire Department responded
swiftly to the incident and effectively extinguished the fire in the morning
and at around 08:00, they had already cleared the smoke in the main OPD
area using the Positive Pressure Ventilation.
It is important to indicate that the main OPD was already cordoned off and
the power supply was isolated after the first fire incident reported on
Saturday afternoon (19 April 2025), therefore it was not operating and
there were no patients in the area at the time of the incident.
The smoke from the main OPD area unfortunately spread to the Eye Clinic
and Pharmacy nearby.
It has also affected the areas that were initially cleared from the Saturday fire such as Surgical Outpatient Department
(SOPD), Medical Outpatient Department (MOPD), Family Medicine and the administration block which were meant to be the alternative Accident and Emergency service area.
These areas are now undergoing reclearing process, involving air quality assessments and issuing of new
electrical COC, to make them available for full use.
Tembisa hospital
The cause of both the OPD and Accident and Emergency Unit fire incidents is still under investigation by various law enforcement teams and regulators.
“The department appeal for calmness and patience during this time.
As things stand, all patients receiving care at the hospital are safe.
There is a business continuity plan to enable the department to continue rendering health services.
Arrangements have been made to ensure that all patients can continue to access the much-needed healthcare services with minimal interruptions,” reassured Dr. Phaahla.
The hospital is still on ambulance divert for emergencies; however, walkin patients can be attended to.
Patients are encouraged to make use of
their local clinics to access healthcare and come to the hospital after they
have been referred.
Critical services are continuing in designated areas or departments within
the hospital.
A help desk has been established to provide information and redirect patients and members of the public on site.
Members of the public whose family members are admitted at the hospital
are still able to visit them as per the normal visiting hours of 14:00 to 16:00
using gate 4.
The Deputy Minister made an appeal to various organisations that have
an interest to conduct oversight visit at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary
Hospital to give the investigators and relevant governance structure an
opportunity to do their work according to their mandate.
Regular updates will be provided through public platforms and existing governance
structures.