The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Gauteng expresses deep concern and outrage following the findings by the Public Protector that the Gauteng Departments of Health and Infrastructure Development unduly delayed repairs to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital after the devastating fire of April 2021.

The findings confirm what workers, patients, organised labour and communities have long raised – that inefficiency, poor coordination, and lack of urgency within government institutions continue to undermine public healthcare and place the lives of working-class communities at risk.

Charlotte Maxeke Hospital is not just another healthcare facility; it is a critical referral hospital serving thousands of working-class families across Gauteng and neighbouring provinces. The prolonged delays in restoring the institution have had devastating consequences, including overcrowding at neighbouring hospitals, delayed medical treatment, pressure on healthcare workers, and disruptions in specialist services.

COSATU Gauteng is particularly concerned about the impact this crisis has had on frontline healthcare workers who have had to operate under immense strain, while patients continue to suffer the consequences of poor planning and governance. Public healthcare workers have carried an unfair burden while government departments failed to act with the urgency required.

The federation believes that public institutions entrusted with safeguarding healthcare infrastructure must be held accountable when failures of governance compromise service delivery. Delays of this magnitude in restoring such a critical public asset are unacceptable, especially in a province with the economic capacity of Gauteng.

COSATU Gauteng therefore calls for full accountability for all officials responsible for the delays identified by the Public Protector, an urgent and transparent turnaround plan to complete outstanding repairs and ensure full operational functionality at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, improved coordination between government departments responsible for public infrastructure and healthcare services, and protection of workers and patients from further disruptions to healthcare services.

The working class cannot continue paying the price for administrative failures and poor governance. Public healthcare must be strengthened, adequately funded, and efficiently managed to ensure dignity and quality healthcare for all.

COSATU Gauteng will continue to stand with healthcare workers and communities in demanding a functional, accountable and people-centred public health system, COSATU will seek audience with the newly appointed MEC of Health and the Premier to resolve on the way forward.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng

Provincial Chairperson: Amos Vusi Monyela – 079 493 5002

Provincial Secretary: Louisah Moepeng Modikwe – 082 297 2659