Patients in nine Gauteng public hospitals have been enduring harsh conditions without hot water as winter temperatures plummet, according to recent revelations in the provincial legislature.
This week temperatures in Gauteng plummeted to almost zero degrees in the early morning hours.
Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko confirmed the crisis in a written reply to questions posed in the Gauteng Legislature. According to the MEC, the following hospitals have experienced hot water problems since May 1 this year:
• Bertha Gxowa Hospital • Cullinan Care and Rehabilitation Centre • Sterkfontein Hospital • Edenvale Hospital • Lenasia Hospital • Kalafong Hospital • Weskoppies Hospital • Jubilee Hospital • Tshwane Rehabilitation Care Hospital
The Health Department attributes these failures to infrastructure issues including leaking steam pipes and broken boilers, compressors, and heat tanks. The situation has forced patients to endure cold water bathing during the coldest months of the year.
“The critical equipment such as boilers, chillers, heat pumps, air conditioners etc. are old and were not serviced appropriately for a long time,” the department stated in its response. “The impact is that due to their heavy usage in winter, the department experiences a lot of breakdowns.”
The department has allocated R100 million to recapitalize hospital equipment, a move they claim is long overdue. However, questions remain about the implementation of these funds given past failed projects.
Opposition party representatives argue that the problem may be more widespread than officially acknowledged. The DA has criticized the current provincial government’s handling of the situation, calling it “inexcusable that sick people have to wash in cold water in winter.”
In their statement, the DA contends that under their leadership, a provincial government would “ensure consistent maintenance of critical hospital equipment, and timely purchase of new equipment when necessary.”
Health advocates are calling for urgent intervention, noting that adequate warm water is not merely a comfort issue but a basic necessity for proper hygiene and patient recovery, especially for vulnerable patients in rehabilitation facilities.
The timeline for resolving these issues across all affected facilities remains unclear as winter conditions continue to worsen.
