By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The repairs at the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg on the East Rand will cost about R18m, after it was damaged by a gas tanker explosion on Saturday.
During a visit to the hospital on Tuesday, Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development Lebogang Maile said the blast had not resulted in any structural damage to the hospital building.
Maile added that an infrastructure assessment had been carried out after “parts of the hospital shook a bit and we were worried about the structural integrity.”
The infrastructure assessment found that the casualty and emergency unit was affected, as well as the theatre, x-ray, and antenatal wards, said Maile. The damage was limited to roofs, ceilings, windows, and doors.
The explosion did not “cause visible structural damage”, he said.
“There was no fundamental impact on the structure, meaning the structure is still sound. However, there were still several damages,” he said.
The damage to the electrical system had been costed at around R18 million, and included light fittings and wiring, among other issues, said Maile.
He added that “mechanical areas” would require around R250 000 to repair in the affected wards.
Maile said the hospital’s HVAC service had “almost collapsed” and would require around R250 000 to fix.
He added that contractors had already been appointed to attend to the repairs of windows and doors. He added that the hospital is more than 100 years old, and this presented some challenges in carrying out repairs.
On Christmas Eve, a truck transporting liquid gas fuel exploded under a bridge, approximately 100 metres from Tambo Memorial Hospital, causing widespread damage to the hospital’s infrastructure.
The explosion killed 18 people and injured many others.
Thirty-seven people, including 24 patients and 13 OR Tambo Memorial Hospital staffers, have sustained severe burns and have been diverted to neighbouring hospitals, including Bertha Gxowa, Far East Rand and LenMed. Three critical patients were airlifted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
The explosion also completely destroyed the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s infrastructure that is close to the scene.