Contractor work linked to power interruption at Ermelo Provincial Hospital
Msukaligwa’s electrical department says municipal supply is operational while contractor work continues at Ermelo Provincial Hospital.
UPDATE: October 2 – 10:40
Msukaligwa Municipality’s electrical department has confirmed that the municipality’s electricity supply to Ermelo Provincial Hospital is operational and that the reported interruption is not due to a fault on the municipal network.
According to feedback from the electrical department, a contractor appointed by the hospital began work at approximately 06:00 today.
The contractor, who is from Nelspruit, switched off the electricity at the hospital’s control panel to allow the work to be carried out safely.
The municipality indicated that its incoming supply to the hospital remains available.
It has not yet been established whether the hospital’s backup generators activated, which areas of the facility are currently receiving backup power, or whether any clinical services have been affected.
Highvelder has sent additional questions to Ermelo Provincial Hospital CEO Madala Ndlovu following the municipality’s feedback, seeking clarity on the nature of the contractor’s work, the expected duration of the interruption, the status of the backup generators and whether critical areas are receiving electricity.
No further response had been received from Ndlovu at the time of this update.
Highvelder has not independently confirmed the extent of the interruption within the hospital or whether patient care has been affected.
Reported power outage at Ermelo Provincial Hospital under investigation
October 2 – 09:59
ERMELO – Municipal technicians are investigating a reported electricity problem at Ermelo Provincial Hospital after concerns were raised about the facility’s power supply earlier this morning.
Highvelder was contacted by a member of the public who was visiting a relative at the hospital and reported that the facility had been without electricity since approximately 06:00.
Mandla Zwane, spokesperson for Msukaligwa Municipality, told Highvelder that municipal technicians had not been aware of any problems affecting the hospital when contacted.
He said the matter would now be investigated and that feedback would be provided once technicians had visited the hospital.
Highvelder contacted Ermelo Provincial Hospital CEO Madala Ndlovu telephonically for clarity on the situation. Ndlovu answered the call but indicated that she was in a meeting at the time.
After being informed of the urgency of the matter, she agreed that Highvelder could send its questions to her via WhatsApp.
Questions were subsequently sent to Ndlovu seeking confirmation of the reported power interruption, whether the hospital’s backup generators were operational, whether critical areas including the ICU, maternity and neonatal wards and operating theatres had power, and whether patient care or other hospital services had been affected.
The message had not yet been read, and no further response had been received from Ndlovu at the time of publication.
Highvelder has thus not yet been able to independently confirm the reported outage, its extent, or whether any hospital services have been affected.
This is a developing story and will be updated as further information becomes available.
