By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has confirmed that a second fire broke out at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital early this morning, April 23, 2025.
Emergency services are currently attending to the blaze at the facility’s main outpatient department (OPD).
This flare up comes as recovery operations are ongoing at the hospital following a fire that gutted the accident and emergency unit over the weekend.
People have been urged to stay away of the area while emergency teams work to contain the blaze.
Health department spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba: “Another incident at the hospital’s main outpatient department, this area is adjacent to the accident and emergency unit, which burnt on Saturday night.”
“The Gauteng Department of Health can confirm that the fire brigades from the City of Ekurhuleni Fire Department are currently on site attending to what looks like another fire accident at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital’s main Outpatient Department referred to as the OPD,” Modiba said.
This second incident has added to the strain, with some patients seen queuing outside the nearby Zamokuhle Private Hospital.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Wellness conducted an oversight visit this morning (22 April 2025) to the hospital to assess the damage, support recovery efforts, and ensure accountability in restoring full functionality.
Accompanied by the MEC for Health, senior officials, and hospital management, the Committee walked through the affected areas and received a preliminary briefing on the damage, contingency plans, and progress on recovery. It was clear from the engagement that while the fire had only affected the Accident and Emergency Unit directly, its influence into adjacent sections due to possible smoke exposure and power disruptions is being attended to, said the committee.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Forensic investigations are ongoing, and the Committee has resolved to allow the department a month to conclude these investigations and advance the restoration process.
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi said he has asked the State Security Agency (SSA) to probe whether “there was no foul play” that caused the fire.
“There have been lots of wrong things happening, so we just have to make sure that there is no human element to it, because if you don’t do it, it can then expand to other hospitals. Police, state security and the fire and forensic unit are investigating the matter,” Lesufi said.
In August 2021, Babita Deokaran, a senior finance official for the Gauteng health department, was shot and killed after flagging irregularities relating to suppliers and service providers that were conducting business with Tembisa Hospital, resulting in expenditure of about R850m.
In 2021, a fire ravaged parts of Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, and again in 2022, another fire broke out at an unused parking area at the hospital.
Lesufi said he decided to authorise an investigation into Tembisa Hospital because “from the experience of Charlotte Maxeke, it is very important not to leave anything to chance”.
He said he has requested a report from the hospital, and was keen to hear from the people who were working in the casualty section when the fire broke out. “I have asked the team to give me a full report tomorrow,” Lesufi said.