As thousands of Johannesburg residents grapple with dry taps and water restrictions, a massive leak in the basement of Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital (CMJH) has triggered outrage and renewed scrutiny over infrastructure failures at one of Gauteng’s largest public health facilities.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Dr Jack Bloom MPL, on Wednesday condemned what he described as “disgraceful” conditions at the hospital after witnessing large puddles of water from leaking pipes during a site visit earlier in the day.
Bloom said he visited the hospital after receiving complaints from patients attending the nearby radiology department. According to him, water was pooling in the basement area, which has remained closed since a devastating fire tore through the hospital in April 2021.
“It is disgraceful that the pipes and the basement have still not been repaired nearly five years after the fire that devastated the hospital,” Bloom said in a statement released on Wednesday.
The basement closure has also worsened parking shortages at the facility, forcing patients — many of them elderly or seriously ill — to walk long distances to access care.
“The basement is still closed even though there is a terrible parking shortage that forces sick people to walk long distances to the hospital,” Bloom said.
The sight of water pooling at a major public hospital comes at a particularly sensitive time for the city. Johannesburg is currently battling significant strain on its water supply network, with several reservoirs operating at low levels and some communities experiencing low pressure or intermittent supply.
Residents in parts of Brixton, Crosby, Hursthill and surrounding areas have reported dry taps in recent days, with some schools sending learners home early due to sanitation concerns. Against this backdrop, Bloom said the leak at CMJH symbolises a broader failure of governance.
“Meanwhile, large amounts of water are wasted as thousands of Joburg residents suffer without reliable water,” he said.
The DA has vowed to continue pressing for the full rehabilitation of Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, arguing that the protracted recovery process since the 2021 fire points to poor management and possible corruption.
“The DA will continue to push for the complete rehabilitation of CMJH, which has taken far too long due to poor management and probable corruption,” Bloom said. “With proper leadership, this hospital can be fixed to provide quality healthcare to patients.”
Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, one of Gauteng’s key tertiary institutions, has faced ongoing delays in restoration and reopening of certain sections following the fire, which severely disrupted services and forced patient relocations.
Meanwhile, the City of Johannesburg has defended its broader response to the water crisis. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Executive Mayor Dada Morero outlined a comprehensive Water Demand Management programme aimed at stabilising supply and reducing consumption.
“The City of Johannesburg is taking decisive action to stabilise the water supply network and reduce consumption through a comprehensive, multifaceted Water Demand Management programme,” Morero said.
He said the initiative involves coordinated efforts between the City, Johannesburg Water, Rand Water and other stakeholders to address both immediate and long-term water security challenges. Measures include real-time monitoring of water usage, pressure management, night-time throttling to reduce losses, strategic bulk meter restrictions in high-consumption areas and the deployment of advanced leak detection technologies.
Johannesburg remains one of the largest consumers of bulk water supplied by Rand Water and must reduce daily usage to 1 550 megalitres per day to comply with licence apportionment requirements.
Morero acknowledged the inconvenience caused by supply disruptions but assured residents that infrastructure upgrades were underway in key supply districts, including Brixton, Crosby and Hursthill. These projects include the construction of new reservoirs, installation of modern pump stations and refurbishment of ageing infrastructure.
To support stabilisation efforts, the City has urged residents and institutions to reduce consumption, report leaks promptly and adhere strictly to water-saving measures.
The contrast between official appeals for conservation and images of water pooling in a major public hospital basement is likely to intensify public frustration. As the city works to bring its water system under control, critics argue that visible waste — especially at a healthcare facility — undermines confidence in efforts to safeguard a resource many residents are currently struggling to access.
