Blackout won't affect Baragwanath

A planned electricity outage in Soweto will not affect the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the department of health said on Thursday.

"The delivery of health services in this hospital will not be affected," the department said in a statement.

"[We] will rely on its backup generators to ensure that the provision of emergency care is not affected."

The electricity cut-off would hit parts of Soweto on Sunday between 6am and 2pm.

City Power would be replacing a circuit breaker in the Soweto primary plan.t

Acting health department head Ndoda Biyela said he had ordered that all 14 of the hospital's emergency generators and other supplies be tested and prepared ahead of the blackout.

Authorities would communicate with patients about re-scheduling non-emergency theatre procedures planned for the day.

"We also urge relatives to postpone visiting the hospital on this day as generators are meant to supply energy in critical areas," he said.

City Power said other areas to be affected were Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Care Centre, the Power Park, the local post office, the Doringkop army base, the SA National Tuberculosis Association centre, St John's Hospital and the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus.