Pretoria state hospitals’ safety failures persist despite millions spent
Residents who rely on public healthcare in Pretoria, the hope is that better oversight will help prevent further negligence and ensure that hospitals become safe environments for all who depend on them.
A recent report presented at a Gauteng Legislature oversight committee meeting has highlighted stark differences in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) compliance across public hospitals in Pretoria and Gauteng.
While a handful of facilities throughout the province have achieved near-perfect compliance, many others continue to face serious shortcomings, particularly in fire suppression equipment and fire detection systems.
According to the report from the Gauteng Health Department, five hospitals in Gauteng scored above 90% compliance, and 15 achieved results between 80–89%.
However, 11 hospitals were stuck in the 70–79% range, reflecting persistent problems that have yet to be adequately addressed.
The most troubling finding is the extremely poor performance of Jubilee Hospital in Hammanskraal, Pretoria, which scored only 52%.
DA MPL Dr Jack Bloom said its dismal rating stems from multiple failures: inadequate fire safety systems, a lack of running water, non-compliance in the generator room and with medical gas storage, as well as substandard housekeeping relating to cleanliness and asset security.
He noted that Jubilee Hospital has already been issued with three prohibition notices.
These relate to fire safety violations, the neglected cleaning of the kitchen extractor fan, and the improper storage of medical gas in the hospital kitchen.
“Such conditions pose serious risks to both patients and staff, raising questions about why these issues have been allowed to persist,” said Bloom.
On the other end of the spectrum, Mamelodi Hospital and the University of Pretoria Dental Hospital achieved an impressive 98% compliance score, demonstrating that high standards are possible when proper systems and oversight are in place.
However, the regression of two major hospitals in Pretoria has added to growing concerns.
Steve Biko Academic Hospital and George Mukhari Hospital, previously in the over-90% category, have now dropped to 85% and 84%, respectively.
Bloom, who has been closely monitoring the situation, voiced strong concerns about the findings.
“We need to know why so many hospitals are fire risks,” he said. “When two companies linked to deputy president Paul Mashatile’s sons were paid R46.7-million in the last three years for fire detection and suppression in Gauteng hospitals.”
He added that Modipadi Nokaneng and the Ngwato and Manzi Group have been associated with Mashatile’s sons, Thabiso Mashatile and Tinyiko Mvelase, and that these companies are now claiming an additional R44-million for work supposedly performed.
The DA in Gauteng is calling for a full investigation into the work done by these contractors.
He emphasised that the public deserves answers as to why fire safety compliance remains so low despite substantial payments to companies tasked with fixing these very problems.
Questions on safety concerns have been sent to the Gauteng Department of Health, but no answers have been received by the time of publication.
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