The Free State health department has reassured the public following concerns about recurring water leaks at the hospital. It confirmed the hospital experienced water leaks in some of the wards due to repairs being done for the provision of hot water.

The Public Servants Association (PSA) called on the departments of health and of public works to conduct an urgent and comprehensive infrastructure assessment, implement immediate remedial measures, and provide a sustainable solution to prevent further disruptions and risks to patient safety.

The association alleged approximately two weeks ago, water leaks were reported on the second and fifth floors. On Tuesday, 14 April, water leaked near the elevator on the first floor. The leak was so severe that the main server had to be switched off to prevent damage.

This led to a backlog of patients. “The Meditech system was inaccessible, which had a hugely detrimental impact on clinical and administrative operations,” it said in a statement.

The next day, more leaks occurred on the ground and in the basement. The flooding was so severe that hospital linen had to be removed.

“The hospital deployed maintenance teams to handle these leaks and avoid disruptions to service delivery in the hospital,” said Free State health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi.

“The department is applying for a budget facility for infrastructure to rehabilitate both tertiary hospitals, completely renewing them to cope with the influx of patients for the next decades.”

Furthermore, the hospital is about 48 years old, with an increasing population, and the infrastructure requires immense capital; that is why the application for a budget was made, he said.

During the 2026/27 provincial budget speech, the MEC of finance, economic development and tourism, Ketso Makume, outlined that health care will receive the second-largest area of expenditure, with R15bn allocated for 2026/27, increasing to R15.6bn and R16.1bn in the following years. Total spending on health is expected to reach R46.9bn over the MTEF period.

Key focus areas include improving the availability of medicine and medical supplies, strengthening primary healthcare services, and maintaining healthcare infrastructure.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm

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