Johannesburg: Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced the formation of a committee to speed up repairs on the fire-damaged section of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. The announcement came after Dr Motsoaledi, alongside Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, assessed the facility, which suffered significant damage in a 2021 fire.
According to South African Government News Agency, the hospital's repair delays were highlighted in a recent Public Protector report, which attributed them to systemic failures, maladministration, and budget underspending. In response, authorities have crafted a plan involving the National Department of Health, the National Treasury, the Premier's Office in Gauteng, the Provincial Department of Health, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), the project's developers.
Dr Motsoaledi explained that a meeting will be held every Tuesday, chaired by the Premier, to review the plan and address the issues identified in the Public Protector's report. The committee aims to rectify procurement processes and ensure effective implementation of repair strategies. He also mentioned receiving commitments from the DBSA that hospital wards will be operational by August.