Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu says generators at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital are being closely monitored by members of staff while the search continues for a new chief engineer.
Earlier this week, the engineer was fired for negligence after failing to identify faults in the hospital’s generators.
They failed to kick in during a power cut on Monday morning.
“The facilities manager is now in charge of monitoring the generators, pending a suitable replacement.
“There are people who are working in the hospital now, in particular the facility manager who is of course not an engineer.
“He is working with a team of artisans as well,” said Mahlangu.
On Tuesday, she said the sacked engineer was fully aware that an important part of the generators needed to be repaired, but failed to inform authorities.
Mahlangu said he was immediately dismissed because he was negligent and endangered people’s lives.
“We’ve taken action to remove the person on site because he was posing risks to the health workers and to the patients who come to our health services.”
