Suspicious fires rock Tembisa Hospital during SIU probe

Amid a Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) probe into corruption at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, the DA has called for a swift investigation into the possibility of arson as two fires ravaged the health institution.

In what DA Gauteng shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom has described as “suspicious”, the hospital has twice been hit by a fire – destroying the accident and emergency section over the Easter weekend and the adjacent outpatients’ department yesterday.

“Are there tenderpreneurs [entrepreneurs profiting on government tenders] who want to get the contracts for rebuilding the burnt sections?,” asked Bloom.

Arson

“This cannot be ruled out as we have criminal syndicates who sabotage the water supply so they can benefit by providing water tankers,” he claimed.

He said arson was identified as the cause of the devastating fire at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital four years ago, “but no one has been caught”.

“Any foul play at Tembisa Hospital needs to be speedily identified and the culprits apprehended before further fires occur.”

Bloom, who has visited the hospital, accompanied by members of the Gauteng legislature health oversight committee, said he saw the extent of the damage.

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“In the interim, the accident and emergency section patients will be treated in the old family medicine section. But this should be a temporary measure, as it worsens the hospital’s already severe overcrowding,” he said.

R3 billion in taxpayer losses

Taxpayer losses to Tembisa Hospital corruption networks, have risen to R3 billion, according to the SIU.

It was first identified by whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, who was assassinated in a hit-style killing outside her Johannesburg home in 2021.

“Under no circumstances should the dysfunctional Gauteng department of infrastructure development be involved in this project,” said Bloom.

“It is notorious for nonperforming contracts, such as at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where fire repairs had to be taken over by the national health department and the Development Bank of South Africa.

Compliance issues

“A competent project team should be appointed for Tembisa, working with the private sector to expedite the building work.

“Greater priority should be given to make all public hospitals comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. “None of the 37 hospitals have 100% compliance, with Tembisa only 79% compliant.”

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Gauteng department of health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said an investigation into the Tembisa Hospital fires was underway.

“Patients continue to receive care. We appeal to the public for patience, because we are not dealing with a normal situation.

“We also appeal to various organisations to allow space to health workers, to adapt to a new environment and give care to patients. We are willing to account and share information,” said Modiba.

A litany of corruption incidents involving the provincial department of health:

• The Gauteng government spending almost R3 billion on Covid-related personal protective equipment (PPE);
• Prices inflated by up to 400%;
• The auditor-general finding 23 unlisted suppliers had delivered PPE to the Gauteng government worth R863 million;
• In 22 instances, PPE contracts worth R442 million were awarded to suppliers with no previous history of supplying PPE; and
• In six instances, overpricing led to a potential loss of R182 million.

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