Niemeyer Hospital faces urgent repairs after devastating storm damage
Niemeyer Hospital faces extensive storm damage, with critical repairs now a top priority.
Image: Supplied
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has ordered urgent repairs at Niemeyer Hospital in Utrecht after Boxing Day’s destructive storm that swept through the Amajuba District.
Simelane said repairs must be expedited with immediate effect so that the hospital can function normally after the storm caused infrastructural damage.
The storm caused extensive infrastructure damage throughout the hospital premises. The damage included the partial detachment of the roof at the casualty unit. Additional damage was recorded across various areas, notably the guard room, archive room, a carport, and several staff residences.
Structural impacts included a park home being displaced from its slab, damage to air-conditioning units, and compromised walkways. Furthermore, all fascia boards, gutters, and downpipes were destroyed. In some areas, electrical cables were exposed. The chief electrical engineer has been instructed to address this urgently to ensure safety and compliance.
The department said the hospital compiled a comprehensive damage report after the storm. A service provider was dispatched on Saturday to conduct an initial assessment and begin emergency stabilisation.
For safety, some areas were temporarily closed, loose roof sheeting was removed, displaced tiles were corrected, and the clearing of debris is continuing.
Niemeyer Hospital’s infrastructure was compromised by severe storm damage, including the partial detachment of the roof.
Image: Supplied
Simelane visited the hospital on Tuesday, where she directed the department and its service providers to prioritise four urgent interventions:
- Restore a stable water supply by urgently repairing the hospital borehole;
- Ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply to the staff headquarters by deploying a generator;
- Immediately clear all corrugated iron sheets, roofing material, and storm debris across the hospital precinct; and
- Repair and replace all broken and cracked window panes, particularly in patient care and staff areas.
This is expected to stabilise operations and ensure a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.
The department said contractors are currently on site implementing interim repairs while a full technical assessment of the entire hospital is being conducted. Planning for permanent restoration is also under way.
A top priority for Simelane is the successful completion of all necessary repairs.
The impact on Niemeyer Hospital highlights the need for urgent restoration efforts.
Image: Supplied
“Our people depend on this hospital. We cannot allow storm damage to compromise patient care. Repairs must be fast-tracked so that Niemeyer Hospital returns to full functionality as quickly as possible,” Simelane said.
Progress will continue to be monitored by the department, and updates will be provided as the work proceeds.
Following the storm, the department said the extent of the damage suggested some disruption to the daily health services offered by affected institutions.
Madadeni EMS Base was also damaged during the storm. A fallen tree damaged a park home and the perimeter fence shared with Madadeni Hospital.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za