ActionSA has called for a criminal investigation into the controversial repair project at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, following a scathing report by the Public Protector that uncovered alleged maladministration, financial irregularities and project management failures linked to the hospital’s reconstruction after the devastating 2021 fire.

On Monday, ActionSA Member of Parliament Dr Kgosi Letlape confirmed the party would formally request the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, to launch an inquiry into the conduct of Gauteng government officials involved in the multimillion-rand repair process.

The party said the findings contained in the Public Protector’s report pointed to potential violations of the Public Finance Management Act and revealed serious failures in financial oversight and governance.

“A damning report released by the Public Protector raises alarm bells about potential violations of the Public Finance Management Act, evidenced by clear findings of maladministration, irregularities, budget underspending, poor financial controls and failures in project management that require urgent and comprehensive investigation,” Letlape said.

The Public Protector reportedly referred aspects of the matter to the Auditor-General of South Africa for further auditing, but ActionSA argues that a criminal probe should proceed simultaneously due to the scale of the alleged misconduct.

The controversy stems from the catastrophic fire that ripped through large sections of Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in April 2021, forcing the closure of critical wards and severely disrupting healthcare services in Gauteng.

The blaze, which started in the hospital’s storeroom area, spread rapidly through parts of the facility and led to the evacuation of hundreds of patients, including critically ill individuals receiving treatment in intensive care and oncology units.

At the time, the hospital was one of Gauteng’s most important tertiary healthcare institutions, serving thousands of patients from across the province and neighbouring regions. The facility is also a major teaching hospital affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand.

The impact on patients following the fire was severe and far-reaching. Thousands of outpatient appointments, surgeries and specialist consultations were delayed or cancelled as departments shut down or operated at reduced capacity. Cancer patients experienced interruptions to chemotherapy and radiation treatment schedules, while many chronically ill patients were transferred between facilities already struggling with overcrowding and staff shortages.

Following the fire, several departments were relocated to already overburdened hospitals, including Helen Joseph Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, placing immense pressure on Gauteng’s fragile public healthcare system.

Healthcare workers and advocacy organisations previously warned that ambulance turnaround times increased significantly after the closure of services at Charlotte Maxeke, while some patients reportedly waited months for specialist procedures and life-saving operations. Medical staff also complained about worsening working conditions, overcrowded wards and shortages of equipment at facilities absorbing displaced patients.

The reopening and reconstruction process has since faced repeated delays, budget disputes and criticism over deteriorating conditions at the partially operational hospital.

ActionSA said testimony recently published in the Sunday Times painted a grim picture of conditions at the facility, with doctors reportedly claiming that little had improved since 2024 despite promises from government officials.

The party accused provincial authorities of allowing one of South Africa’s most critical healthcare institutions to collapse through incompetence and poor leadership.

“The conduct of incompetent public officials placed the lives of patients at risk, severely undermined access to public healthcare, and imposed intolerable conditions on healthcare professionals attempting to serve communities under already compromised circumstances,” Letlape said.

The party also announced plans to request that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko urgently brief Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health regarding the findings and the ongoing challenges at the hospital.

ActionSA further warned that it would closely monitor Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and his administration’s compliance with the Public Protector’s recommendations.

The hospital fire and its aftermath have become symbolic of broader concerns surrounding infrastructure collapse, procurement irregularities and governance failures within South Africa’s public healthcare sector.

Healthcare unions and civil society groups have repeatedly criticised delays in restoring full services at Charlotte Maxeke, warning that overcrowding at surrounding hospitals has negatively affected patient care across Gauteng.

Important specialist services, including oncology, surgery and internal medicine units, were disrupted for extended periods after the fire, with some patients reportedly forced to travel long distances to access treatment.

The Gauteng Department of Health has previously defended the reconstruction process, citing the complexity of repairs, compliance requirements and funding constraints as contributing factors to delays.

However, mounting political pressure and the Public Protector’s findings are likely to intensify scrutiny over how public funds allocated for the hospital’s rehabilitation were managed.

ActionSA said it would continue pursuing “every available mechanism” to ensure accountability and to prevent further deterioration at the hospital.

“No one should be allowed to escape responsibility for the tragic collapse of one of the country’s most vital healthcare facilities,” the party said.

The Hawks had not commented on the matter.