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25 April 2025
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Patients evacuated as Tembisa Hospital's emergency unit up in flames, Ekurhuleni
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On Saturday, 19 April 2025 a fire broke out in the Accident and Emergency Unit of Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital. Eric Maloka, manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), said, “City of Ekurhuleni Fire Rescue Emergency Services received the call around 17h05 and the first responding station was Olifantsfontein fire station that was just less than five kilometres away from the hospital. They promptly responded with the rescue with three personnel and they requested a regional turn-out.”
“City of Ekurhuleni Metro Police, Gauteng rescue services, Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, private ambulances, chaplains, security fraternity and other department responded. Back up station that rerouted to Tembisa hospital fire are Albertina Sisulu responded with rescue 30 with three personnel, Commercia Fire Station with rescue 27 with six personnel, Leon Ferreira responded with four personnel and Farremere station responded with water tanker with two personnel”, he added.
Maloka said, “They all robustly defensively and effectively suppressed the fire from spreading, whereas another team were busy in search and rescue.”
“The hospital management reported that there were initially 81 patients received in the Accident and Emergency Unit, and two were immediately sent intensive Care Unit and one to High Care. Four of the patients were discharged, 17 were transferred to other hospitals. Six to Charlotte Maxeke, four to Edenvale, three to Steve Biko, four to Tshwane District hospital and 50 were admitted at Tembisa Hospital.”
“An emergency telephone line was activated to allow families to enquire about their loved ones and the number is Tel: 011 923 2000. And it was also confirmed that all six doctors, 14 nurses and six security personnel who were on duty at the time of the fire have been accounted for and none were harmed.”
The course of the fire remains the subject of the investigation by various stakeholders, which include our local codes section.
Another fire broke out at the hospital's emergency unit on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla believes there is no connection between the two fires, which occurred days apart.
Source: Eric Maloka, manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
“City of Ekurhuleni Metro Police, Gauteng rescue services, Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, private ambulances, chaplains, security fraternity and other department responded. Back up station that rerouted to Tembisa hospital fire are Albertina Sisulu responded with rescue 30 with three personnel, Commercia Fire Station with rescue 27 with six personnel, Leon Ferreira responded with four personnel and Farremere station responded with water tanker with two personnel”, he added.
Maloka said, “They all robustly defensively and effectively suppressed the fire from spreading, whereas another team were busy in search and rescue.”
“The hospital management reported that there were initially 81 patients received in the Accident and Emergency Unit, and two were immediately sent intensive Care Unit and one to High Care. Four of the patients were discharged, 17 were transferred to other hospitals. Six to Charlotte Maxeke, four to Edenvale, three to Steve Biko, four to Tshwane District hospital and 50 were admitted at Tembisa Hospital.”
“An emergency telephone line was activated to allow families to enquire about their loved ones and the number is Tel: 011 923 2000. And it was also confirmed that all six doctors, 14 nurses and six security personnel who were on duty at the time of the fire have been accounted for and none were harmed.”
The course of the fire remains the subject of the investigation by various stakeholders, which include our local codes section.
Another fire broke out at the hospital's emergency unit on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla believes there is no connection between the two fires, which occurred days apart.
Source: Eric Maloka, manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS)
