Gauteng departments slammed over Charlotte Maxeke fire delays

Smoke is seen at the staff parking and visitors parking entrances of the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg.

The Public Protector has found that both the Gauteng Departments of Health and Infrastructure failed to act with urgency following the devastating fire at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in 2021.

The delays affected the restoration of critical health care services among others. Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gxaleka says the actions by the two departments constitutes improper conduct.

“I’ve noted with concern a recurring trend and pattern of lack of coordination, accountability and derivable and inefficient use of public resources between the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure as an implementing agent for government capital infrastructure projects and its client departments in Gauteng, this improper conduct is often fuelled by bureaucratic conflicts disagreements.”

The Public Protector has recommended broader lifestyle audits involving key officials in the Gauteng Health and Infrastructure Development departments.

“ I refer that the Premier of Gauteng considers subjecting the ongoing risk and lifestyle audits that are currently being conducted by his office in collaboration with the SIU to all officials at the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and in the Gauteng Department of Health who are responsible for the supply chain management and financial management, and to report on the lifestyle audits outcomes to the Department of Public Service and Administration. As part of remedial action, the Public Protector has recommended that they need to ensure a clean and open governance within the province.”