Tembisa Hospital
By Mpho Moloi
The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that a fire which broke out at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit on Saturday, 19 April 2025, has been brought under control, with no injuries or fatalities reported. The blaze prompted the safe evacuation of 85 individuals, including 79 patients and six staff members, to nearby healthcare facilities, ensuring their safety while firefighters and emergency services worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames.
Swift Response Ensures Safety
The fire erupted just before 18:00 in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, located on Flint Mazibuko Street in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni. Emergency services, including firefighters from the City of Ekurhuleni and Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS), responded promptly, arriving at the scene to contain the blaze. By Saturday evening, the fire was extinguished, and no other wards in the hospital were affected, preserving the facility’s broader operations.
Gauteng Health Head of Department, Lesiba Malotana, addressed the public, stating, “We just really want to confirm and assure the public that the fire was started at the Tembisa Accident and Emergency Unit this afternoon, has been contained.” He added, “All patients that were at the accident and emergency at the time of the incident have safely been evacuated.” The swift evacuation of 85 individuals was a testament to the hospital’s disaster management protocols and the coordinated efforts of emergency personnel.
Ekurhuleni Mayor Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza confirmed that all 48 patients initially reported in the emergency section were accounted for, with additional evacuations bringing the total to 79 patients and six staff safely moved to other healthcare facilities or safer areas within the hospital. “At this stage, preliminary data is coming through; once it’s processed, we will be able to communicate,” Xhakaza said, noting that teams were deployed inside the hospital to monitor patients for potential smoke inhalation risks.
Hospital Operations and Public Advisory
The Gauteng Department of Health announced that the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit is currently not receiving patients and will remain on “full divert status” until further notice. Malotana emphasised, “We will not receive any other patients for now, we will keep the patients, and the users of the facility updated of any developments.” The rest of the hospital remains operational, ensuring continuity of care for other wards.
The public has been urged to avoid the area around Flint Mazibuko Street and use alternative routes to allow emergency services unimpeded access. Nearby healthcare facilities, such as Arwyp Medical Centre and other clinics in Ekurhuleni, are accommodating diverted patients to manage the temporary closure of the emergency unit. Posts on X reflected community concern, with residents praising the rapid response of firefighters and EMS teams while awaiting updates on the hospital’s status.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine the origin of the blaze. Motalatale Modiba, the Gauteng Department of Health’s Head of Communications, noted that firefighters and EMS teams stayed on-site overnight to assess the extent of the damage and ensure no residual risks remained. A joint operations centre, including disaster management teams, has been established to coordinate the response and provide ongoing updates.
This incident follows a recent fire at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital on 5 December 2024, where a blaze in the theatre area led to the evacuation of approximately 200 patients. No injuries were reported in that incident either, highlighting the effectiveness of emergency protocols in Gauteng’s healthcare facilities. However, the recurrence of hospital fires raises concerns about safety measures, particularly in high-risk areas like emergency units and theatres.
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