By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Public Protector has found the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) and Department of Health (GDoH) “unduly delayed” repairing damage at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
The office of the Public Protector probed the repairs following a devastating fire at the hospital in April 2021.
At a media briefing on Friday, Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka said among the failures were “misconceived” timeframes, “persistent disputes” between the two departments over scope, budget, and processes, and massive underspending of more than R300 million.
The failures resulted in extended ward closures and a risk to service delivery, the report highlighted.
Gcaleka said the investigation found that the transfer of the repair work was necessary due to the substantial delays under GDID.
“After a holistic review of submissions, it is apparent that the causes of the delays in this project are largely attributed to broader underlying administrative and systemic circumstances such as delayed regulatory approvals, disagreements concerning project scope, transfer of custodianship of the hospital, failure to adhere to the project plans, poor planning, poor project management, lack of proper coordination and budget underspending.”
The report found that GDID, which had been appointed as the implementing agent, failed to submit a compliant project execution plan. The plan submitted in July 2021 did not meet required infrastructure delivery standards, contributing to further setbacks.
Persistent disputes between GDID and GDoH over scope, budget and processes, as well as poor coordination and project management, were identified as major factors in delaying the project. These tensions ultimately led to the transfer of responsibility for the hospital’s repairs from GDID to GDoH in February 2022 – a move that itself caused additional delays of more than 18 months.
The report revealed that both departments failed to effectively use allocated funds and did not comply with established infrastructure delivery frameworks, which further derailed the repair project.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) was later appointed to take over as the implementing agent following national government intervention.
Financial mismanagement also emerged as a key concern. Of the R667-million allocated for repairs and maintenance between 2021 and 2024, only about R324.2-million — just over 51% — had been spent by March 2024. In the 2022/2023 financial year alone, only 45% of the budget was utilised.
The total cost of repairs is now expected to exceed R1.7 billion, leaving the government to look to both the state and the private sector for additional funding to bridge the massive financial shortfall.
Gcaleka recommended that the premier consider subjecting officials at both departments responsible for supply chain and financial management to ongoing risk-based lifestyle audits, conducted in collaboration with the Special Investigating Unit.
Within 30 calendar days of receiving the report, consequence management must be initiated against implicated officials still employed by the state who were involved in the hospital fire repair project.
“The longer it takes to address these repairs, the more the cost is delivered,” she warned.
Both the Head of the Department of Health and the Head of the Department of Infrastructure Development are required to submit action plans within 30 days detailing financial management mechanisms, budgetary controls, and internal measures.
The Head of the Gauteng Provincial Treasury must, within 60 days, provide an action plan indicating oversight measures to be put in place by both departments and assist the Department of Health in building capacity for efficient financial management.