SIYABONGA SITHOLE
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it is concerned about a possible cover-up in the investigation into the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) fire following a report indicating that the cause of the fire was not human error but arson.
On Monday, the South African Police Services (SAPS) confirmed that a forensic report into the CMJAH fire indicated the cause of the fire was arson and that the police investigation will now treat it as such.
This comes after a Daily Maverick article revealed that the report by a team of investigators had revealed the real cause of the fire. However, the Department of Health said this report had not been shared with the department and thus could not confirm its existence.
Last year, the hospital was gutted down by a fire that remains a mystery to this day.
Gauteng Health spokesperson Motaletale Modiba said the department has since been inundated with media enquiries following the article, which said it was in possession of a forensic report in relation to the fire.
"We, unfortunately, have not seen the so-called forensic report and, as such, are not in a position to comment on it. Maybe you should check with the SAPS as to whether they have indeed completed their report and with which department have they shared the report, "Modiba said.
On Sunday, Daily Maverick confirmed the existence of a forensic report compiled by the police, which reveals the fire which broke out on April 16, 2021, was due to arson. The article further stated that the report by senior police investigators had recommended further investigation into the fire by the police.
The police have since confirmed the existence of the report but declined to offer any explanation on why it had not shared the contents of this report with the Department of Health and other stakeholders.
"Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to share a report that forms part of investigations. I can confirm that the police in Gauteng have received the forensic report and that the incident is now investigated as arson," Gauteng police spokesperson Brenda Muridili said.
In July this year, another fire at the hospital broke out but was subsequently contained by firefighters leading to another investigation by the Hillbrow police station.
This year's fire affected a section of the parking bay at the hospital, while last year's fire affected the hospital's trauma unit leading to the evacuation of at least 700 patients and destruction of medical supplies to the value of R40 million. The fire was reported to have started at the hospital's storage area on the second floor but soon ran out of control resulting in the collapse of part of the parking structure on the third floor and subsequent structural damage on the northern side of the hospital.
In May this year, the process of welcoming back some of the patients and units began with Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla saying over R68 million had been spent revamping the hospital, with more work still to be done by the end of November 2023.
Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow MEC of health Jack Bloom said the party had noted the leaked police forensic report.
Bloom said the report appears to have been completed last year and recommended further investigation, but there is no indication that this was done.
"I asked questions about this in the Gauteng Legislature a month ago, and Acting Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said that the police had done the investigations, but the report is still pending,“ he said.
Bloom said according to Nkomo-Ralehoko, the forensic report investigation was coordinated by the office of the Premier, adding that this could be the reason the department has not been able to provide clarity on any delays.
"In my experience, the Premier’s Office is the graveyard of investigations as they are never done speedily or made public. Poor excuses are given for the delay in releasing the four investigations into the fire at the Bank of Lisbon Building in September 2018,"Bloom said.
The DA said it is concerned that the fire at CMJH was done to cover up corruption in the storeroom where it started.
"The fire damage has caused immense disruption, and patients have suffered, including lives lost from delayed treatment. The DA will continue to press for full disclosure of all investigations into the fire and criminal prosecutions for implicated people,“ Bloom said.
The Star