Fire contained, no Injuries after patient sets bed alight at Charlotte Maxeke

Health

Cape Town – The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that a fire that broke out at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital on Monday afternoon was quickly contained, causing minimal damage and no injuries.

According to the department, the blaze started after a psychiatric patient allegedly set her bed alight “while demanding to be discharged.” The incident occurred on the ninth floor, in Ward 196, where security personnel and hospital staff moved swiftly to douse the flames before firefighters arrived.

“Fortunately, no injuries were sustained as a result of this incident,” the department said in a statement. “As a precautionary measure, patients were relocated to allow for a thorough clean-up and investigation.”

Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi confirmed that his team found the fire already extinguished when they arrived.

“Our crews assisted with clearing smoke from the affected area to ensure the environment was safe,” he said, as reported by Eyewitness News.

As stated by Gauteng DA shadow health MEC Jack Bloom, the recurring fires at Charlotte Maxeke highlight deep concerns over safety compliance.

“A hospital like this should have sprinklers, fire detection systems and proper fire doors that can shut off sections in case of a major fire,” Bloom said.

He added that “it’s unacceptable that it will take more than five years since the 2021 fire to fully restore the hospital, which will still not be compliant with legally required fire-prevention measures.”

According to SowetanLIVE, Gauteng Health has admitted that the facility still requires about R1.7 billion to achieve full fire compliance.

Repairs to Blocks 4 and 5 North are under way, while Phase 2 will address the remaining upgrades once funding is secured. The department has already spent R139 million of the R426 million allocated for the first stage of reconstruction.

In April 2021, a massive blaze destroyed personal protective equipment and medical stock worth about R40 million, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of patients. A later forensic report concluded that the fire was an act of arson, and subsequent audits found faulty smoke doors, incompatible fire-hydrant couplings and non-functional sprinklers.

According to Gauteng Health, Monday’s incident will not disrupt operations at the hospital. “The facility remains open and functional. Only the affected ward has been cordoned off while investigations continue,” the department said.

Investigations into the cause of the latest fire are continuing, with the South African Police Service assisting hospital management and provincial officials in determining whether any criminal charges will follow.

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