Steve Biko Academic Hospital fire ‘a close call as it could have been worse’

11 January 2016 - 12:20 By TMG Digital

A fire at Steve Biko Academic Hospital “highlights the need for regular fire inspections at Gauteng hospitals”‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Sunday. The party’s Jack Bloom said that while he was “relieved that no one was hurt”‚ the incident “was a close call as it could have been worse”.He said Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu told the Gauteng Legislature in October last year that an inspection at Steve Biko in July last year “found that exits were blocked and while non-compliance letters were given to management‚ the exits were still a problem”.Bloom also said there were three fires at the province’s hospitals last year: A fire in the stores department of the Tambo Memorial Hospital on May30; a cleaning department fire at Helen Joseph Hospital on September 6 and a fire caused by an electrical fault in the laundry of the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital on September 23.Bloom said: “According to Mahlangu's reply to my questions‚ the following hospitals are long overdue for their annual fire inspection:- Leratong Hospital‚ last inspected in August 2012;- George Mukhari Hospital‚ last inspected in April 2013;- South Rand Hospital‚ last inspected in May 2013;- Tara Hospital‚ last inspected in July 2013;- Sebokeng Hospital‚ May 2014;- Carletonville Hospital‚ last inspected in June 2014;- Edenvale Hospital‚ last inspected in July 2014; and- Rahima Moosa Hospital‚ last inspected in September 2014.”..

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