Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi said that ward refurbishments at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital will be completed by August 2026 [1].
The announcement follows a report from the Public Protector regarding the prolonged delay in repairing damage from a fire that occurred in April 2021 [3]. The slow pace of recovery has limited the capacity of one of Johannesburg's primary medical facilities, prompting government intervention to restore full service.
Motsoaledi made the pledge during an oversight visit to the facility, where he was joined by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi [1]. The government has established a dedicated committee to expedite the remaining work and ensure the facility returns to operational status [4].
According to Motsoaledi, the long-running repair project is expected to be completed in August [2]. He said that the Development Bank of Southern Africa has two months to finish all outstanding work [5].
While the wards are the immediate priority, other infrastructure improvements are still pending. The minister said that repairs to the hospital's parking area are slated for completion by October 2026 [1].
"Repairs will be completed by August," Motsoaledi said [3].
The project has faced significant scrutiny due to the time elapsed since the original fire incident. The current push for completion comes as a direct response to the Public Protector's findings on the mismanagement of the repair timeline [3].
“Repairs will be completed by August.”
The commitment to finish repairs by August 2026 marks an attempt by the South African government to resolve a five-year infrastructure failure. By involving the Finance Minister and the Gauteng Premier, the administration is signaling that the project now has high-level political oversight to prevent further delays and address the findings of the Public Protector.
