Gauteng Hospitals Struggle as Gas Cut Leaves Patients Without Hot Water and Fresh Meals

Patients at two major Gauteng hospitals have endured cold showers and prepackaged meals for a week after Egoli Gas cut off services due to an unpaid R14 million debt by the provincial government.

The service suspension affected Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Coronationville and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, disrupting essential operations. Gas is crucial in hospitals for heating water, cooking, and sterilizing surgical instruments, according to the Gauteng health department.

The department’s deepening financial crisis was highlighted during a presentation at the legislature’s health committee meeting last week. The department’s deficit has surged from R4.8 billion to R7.3 billion in just three months—11.23% of its R65 billion budget. Some supplier debts date back to 2012.

Stephan Gwenhi, a patient at Charlotte Maxeke, described the hardship they faced due to the gas shortage.

“For the past week, we’ve been given cornflakes and bread for breakfast instead of cooked porridge. There’s no tea or coffee, and we eat the same prepacked fish and rice for lunch and dinner. On top of that, we have to bathe in cold water,” he said.

The health department attempted to downplay the situation, stating that while services were impacted, hospital operations continued.

At Charlotte Maxeke, the gas suspension primarily affected the domestic hot water supply and the sterilization of medical equipment.

“The facility’s kitchen at Rahima Moosa is operating with gas cylinders to mitigate the absence of central gas supply,” said department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba.

However, a hospital kitchen employee said meal preparation now takes significantly longer since they must use an electric stove instead of a bulk food steam oven.

“We cook for a lot of people, and using pots means we have to prepare food in small portions, delaying meal service by over an hour. I don’t know anything about gas cylinders, and the hospital hasn’t explained why we have no gas,” the worker said.

A new mother discharged from Rahima Moosa said there was no hot water during her stay. A heart surgery patient at Charlotte Maxeke described the food as inedible and had to rely on his wife to bring him meals.

“The food was horrible. I couldn’t eat it. My wife had to bring me food every day,” said the 62-year-old patient.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and his MECs are expected to update President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet on Thursday regarding plans to improve service delivery in the province.

Modiba confirmed that the Egoli Gas matter was being addressed but would not elaborate on the contractual disputes.

“To maintain hospital operations, Charlotte Maxeke will provide quick-freeze meals to patients and use nearby facilities for sterilizing medical equipment,” he said.

The department is also exploring alternative energy sources, including biofuel, to prevent future disruptions.

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