Free State Health Department spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, confirms that at around 11:00 on Thursday morning one of the water pipes in the area burst, flooding the ward which he says is, in fact, a part of Universitas Academic Hospital but is based on the grounds of National Hospital. Mvambi says the area was cordoned off temporarily until it was dry. The department says contractors have been appointed to carry out renovations at the hospital. Mvambi does not indicate when that will be.

This isn’t the first time that the aging hospital’s infrastructure-related problems have made headlines. In 2017, a fire broke out at the hospital, causing speculation over the electrical wiring similar to the closely located Free State Psychiatric Complex. OFM News reported at the time that the department vowed to look into the wiring. 

In January 2019 the hospital was scrutinised when some of its wards were partially flooded after one of the water tanks located on the roof of the hospital cracked, resulting in a steady flow of water flowing into the building. Mvambi back then explained that the water tanks were big, carry about 20 000 litres of water and that contractors were attending to the crack on one of the tanks. He highlighted that the department was working on revitalising the hospital to improve the quality of the building. 

It is important to note the hospital has undergone extensive renovations in other parts of the hospital.

OFM News