Tambo Hospital reopens after explosion!

The Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg has been reopened on Monday, January 30, after it was partially destroyed in a deadly tanker explosion that killed at least 41 people and injured dozens others on Christmas Eve.

The hospital has been closed since December following the explosion caused by the gas leak from the tanker after being compressed under a low-lying bridge before it went ablaze, engulfing bystanders and damaging private and public infrastructure within an estimated 500 metres radius from the scene.

The impact of the explosion affected the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E), Radiology Department and other sections of the hospital, resulting in damages to the ceiling and some windows in the Antenatal Care Department, Operating Theatre and various other sections of the hospital.

Speaking during the reopening of the facility, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, stated that the building has been structurally reviewed from top to bottom and the entire complex has been uplifted following the testing and quality checks of the clinical machines and the subsequent lifting of the prohibition notice by the Department of Labour.

The impact of the explosion affected the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E), Radiology Department and other sections. Other damages include the ceiling and some windows in the Antenatal Care Department, Operating Theatre and various other sections of the facility.

“As a result of the above, the hospital was placed on ambulance diversion since 24 December 2022 to 27 January 2023 at 8pm. Patients coming-in with private vehicle and walk-inns were either admitted or stabilised and transferred to neighbouring facilities based on the assessment of doctors.”

“All staff members who were allocated to neighbouring facilities have also been recalled. All services have now been restored and the hospital will embark on a catch-up process to reschedule patients who would have missed their scheduled appointments for surgery and radiology services.

We still want to advice the public of our referral pathways which requires for patients to receive the right level of care at the appropriate facility,” said the MEC speaking to the media.

MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko added that investigators have concluded their investigation and have already handed over the docket to the National Prosecution Agency.

Recently, Godongwana says international and local challenges continue to pose as obstacles in the growth of the economy. This as real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by some 1.6% in the third quarter of 2022. Coupled with these international challenges, economic growth is also facing challenges closer to home, these include the increased loadshedding that has bought significant loss in economic activity across the country.

It is expected that over the next year, Treasury will work closely with provincial and local governments in order to address “dysfunctional” service delivery. Over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, at least R523 billion is expected to be transferred to local government to address municipal challenges, including service delivery, stabilising municipalities in immediate distress, and developing longer-run plans to improve capability.

“Over the next three years, we propose allocating 48.4% of available non-interest spending to national departments; 41.4% to provinces, and 10.1% to local government. This will allow provinces to support basic education and health services, roads, housing, social development and agriculture,” said the minister during last year’s Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in October.

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