Johannesburg – The Gauteng Department of Health has revealed that its Infrastructure Unit recently renovated the Accident and Emergency Unit, which caught alight at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
The fire broke out in the Accident and Emergency Unit of Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital on Saturday, 19 April 2025.
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Giving an update on the state of the hospital on Sunday, (20 April 2025), Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “All 14 nurses, 6 doctors, and 6 security officers who were on duty at the time of the fire incident have been accounted for, and none were harmed”.
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said the following facts have also been established:
- There were initially 81 patients received in the Accident and Emergency Unit
- 2 were immediately sent to the Intensive Care Unit
- 1 Immediately to High Care
- 4 Were discharged
- 17 Transferred to other hospitals (6 Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, 4 to Edenvale Hospital, 3 to Steve Biko Academic Hospital, 4 to Tshwane District Hospital)
- 50 were admitted to the Tembisa Hospital’s Antenatal Unit
- There were about 7 patients who walked out of the hospital when they saw that there was a fire
- A telephone line was activated to allow families to enquire about their loved ones: 011 923 2000 / 2165
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said the Accident and Emergency Unit remains closed until further notice, but other parts of the hospital continue to operate normally.
“I commend them for remaining calm and professional under pressure,”‘ she said.
“I am happy to indicate that as of 14:00 today, families were able to come and see their loved ones as per the normal arrangements.
“This is because the fire has not affected other wards.”
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said, at this moment, no one knows the cause of the fire incident.
She, however, revealed that the Gauteng Department of Health’s Infrastructure Unit recently renovated the Accident and Emergency Unit and the latest maintenance records for fire-fighting equipment like fire extinguishers indicate that they were compliant until 2026.
“There are several investigations that are underway by various institutions as required by law and their response mandates,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“These include SA Police Service Forensic investigators, the Department of Employment and Labour inspectors, City of Ekurhuleni Fire Department, and our own Departmental internal investigation.”
Contingency Measures
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said a business continuity plan has been put in place to ensure the continual functionality of the hospital.
However, she said the hospital remains on divert and is not receiving new emergency cases for now.
The contingency measures include:
- The hospital remains on divert for ambulances
- Walk-ins will still be seen at the hospital
- Various services, such as for acutely ill patients, mother and children services, mental health, and other chronic diseases, will continue to be rendered at designated areas
