The Gauteng Health Department has allocated a staggering R46.7 million over the past three years to two contractors responsible for implementing fire detection and suppression systems across provincial hospitals.
This substantial investment raises questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of these measures, particularly as the healthcare sector grapples with numerous challenges, not least of which is ensuring patient safety and compliance with stringent fire safety regulations.
In a written reply to the Gauteng Legislature, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that Modipadi Nokaneng and the Ngwato and Manzi Group (NMG) received R28.8 million and R17.9 million, respectively, between 2022/23 and 2024/25 for “services rendered by the service provider.”
The Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom, raised concerns over the companies’ links to Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s sons and questioned why they are now claiming an additional R44 million.
“We need to know why the original R49 million contract has apparently been extended,” Bloom said, noting that hospitals remain non-compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Generally, detection and suppression systems, particularly in the context of fire safety, work together to identify a fire in its early stages and then automatically take action to extinguish or control it, thereby minimising damage and protecting lives.
The detection part uses components like smoke detectors and heat sensors to sense danger, which triggers an alarm to alert people. The suppression part then activates to release a fire-fighting agent (such as water from sprinklers, or inert gases like CO2 or chemicals in gas suppression systems) to put out the fire before it spreads.
However, over the past four years, Gauteng hospitals have repeatedly been engulfed in fire, underscoring the severity of the problem.
In April 2021, a major fire at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital forced the evacuation of nearly 700 patients and caused extensive damage, including the partial collapse of the parking garage.
Earlier this year, Tembisa Hospital suffered two fires within five days, destroying patient files and forcing emergency diversions.
In 2022, both Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital were hit by fires, affecting temporary COVID-19 structures and a laundry area, though no casualties were reported.
Bloom also questioned how the companies, though legally separate entities, appear to share staff, resources, and office space.
He slammed the companies, highlighting that massive payments have been made while hospital fire prevention systems remain dangerously inadequate.
“It is suspicious that so much money has been paid to these companies, who are still claiming millions more,” he said, emphasising the urgent need for accountability.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba addressed concerns over the R46.7 million paid to the companies, despite hospitals still being non-compliant with fire safety standards.
‘The amounts paid were for work completed at the hospitals we contracted them to service,’ he said.
Asked how the functionality of fire detection and suppression systems is verified and why payments are made without proof of compliance, he said that once the work is completed, officials from the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development sign off on a completion certificate, which is then forwarded to the Department of Health for payment.
Modiba further addressed concerns about repeated incidents, such as the fires at Tembisa Hospital, explaining that regular maintenance of fire extinguishers is being carried out based on available resources.
However, questions remain about when Gauteng hospitals will achieve full compliance with fire safety standards to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
The Star
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