The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Gauteng is deeply troubled by the fire that broke out in the emergency unit at Tembisa Hospital in Ekurhuleni at the weekend.

Hospitals are meant to provide medical care for the sick and injured, and it is crucial that they be safe spaces, but the recurring fires at health facilities remain a source of concern for the workers and the citizens of Gauteng.

In April 2021, the province experienced a fire at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and now four years later, the very same has happened at Tembisa Hospital. This puts the lives of both patients and staff at risk, disrupts services and is financially burdensome to the taxpayers in the province.

COSATU Gauteng urgently calls on the Department of Health and Department of Employment of Labour to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current state of all health institutions in the province to determine the extent of the occupational health and safety challenges, including the dilapidating infrastructure, prioritise necessary repairs or refurbishment and ensure compliance in terms of health and safety regulations. The staff to patient ratio should also be assessed and measures taken to prioritise it.

The Federation will closely monitor the developments related to this issue and engage with relevant authorities to ensure that the concerns of workers and the broader community are addressed promptly and comprehensively.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng

Provincial Chairperson (Amos Monyela): 079 493 5002

Provincial Secretary (Louisah Modikwe): 066 182 2402 / 082 297 2659