JOHANNESBURG - Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital’s medical wards are expected to reopen in August.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi made the announcement on Tuesday during a visit to the facility, after parts of the building were damaged by a fire in 2021.
Motsoaledi visited the hospital alongside Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to assess progress on repairs, following a scathing Public Protector report released on Friday.
Public Protector Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka detailed delays by the Gauteng Departments of Infrastructure Development and Health in addressing the structural damage.
READ: Public Protector: Poor coordination, mismanagement delayed Charlotte Maxeke repairs
According to the report, the root causes are systemic and administrative.
These include disputes over custodianship of the hospital, failure to adhere to project plans, poor project management, and a lack of coordination between the two departments.
Tensions between the departments escalated to the point that former Premier David Makhura intervened.
In 2022, he transferred custodianship of the hospital from the Department of Infrastructure Development back to the Health Department.
READ: Godongwana, Motsoaledi to visit Charlotte Maxeke Hospital
The fire repair project will now be referred to the Auditor-General’s office for further investigation.
"We are assured today that the DPSA, which is in charge of the project, they say by August, the wards will be open," says Motsoaledi.
By October, parking areas — where the fire started — are also expected to reopen.
Minister Godongwana is calling for the implementation of consequence management by accounting officers.
READ: Charlotte Maxeke staff feel vindicated after PP report exposes maladministration
"You can pass as many regulations as you can, but if you don't have consequence management," says Godongwana.
"We are not going to avoid people bypassing the system," he adds.