The department has confirmed that all staff are back at work on Monday (1/9) after restoration crews worked over the weekend to ensure that affected areas comply with safety and hygiene standards. The provincial headquarters were flooded on Tuesday, 26 August, which prevented the safe occupancy of the building. 

All officials based at the building were notified, and staff were directed to work from home in the interest of their safety. Members of the occupational health and safety committee visited the building on Friday (29/8) to determine the progress made with the restoration and cleaning after the flooding.

“Normal services and operations at Bophelo House have resumed on Monday (1/9),” said Free State health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi. Repairs included carpet cleaning, ceiling replacement, restoration of electrical installations, and lift maintenance.

“The cleaning crews ensured that the affected areas complied with safety and hygiene standards. Safety at the workplace is a collective effort, and it was important for the committee and the registered trade unions at the workplace to conduct this walkthrough inspection.”

Flooding happened in the building’s A-Section in 2023 as a result of a pipe disconnection. Bloemfontein Courant reported a steel pipe disconnected due to heavy water pressure.

It was suspected that due to load-shedding, a steel water pipe connecting from the municipal water supply system to a reservoir of Bophelo House gradually became loose and was overwhelmed by the heavy water pressure when electricity was restored.

Bophelo House is a key hub for the department’s admin and planning; it houses teams that handle everything from disease control to hospital support.

“The department has embarked on an ongoing process to determine the causes of the flooding and assess the safety of occupancy of the building,” said Mvambi. Measures to ensure continuity of business were instituted to minimise disruption to services while the assessment and remedial work were underway.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh