Recently, the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein experienced an interruption of electricity supply that affected various departments.
According to a message sent by the acting superintendent on call on Sunday (28/9) in an internal group, the generator backup was not responding to the shortfalls. Departments affected included the X-ray department, theater, high care, ICU, and the trauma and casualty departments.
“All relevant technical stakeholders are recalled to correct the matter. We are currently unable to receive any patients from outside,” the message read. This incident raised deeper concerns for local businessman Theodore Chikuma, who has been outspoken about issues affecting the Heidedal community, where the hospital is located. He noted the facility’s painful history of service failures and said the ongoing electricity problems amplify those concerns. Chikuma has called for greater transparency in how crises impacting the community are communicated and addressed. “To now hear that critical departments cannot function due to electricity failures is heartbreaking and frightening. Our lives depend on this hospital, and when its systems collapse, it is the ordinary community members who carry the cost in pain, fear, and even loss of life,” he said.
Bloemfontein Courant reached out to Free State department of health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi, who said it was an issue with the service provider that caused the interruptions on Sunday. According to him, the generator immediately kicked in, and there was no problem with the continuity of care until Centlec fixed an issue from their side. Normal power supply has since been restored, and Centlec is monitoring the situation. “The health system is not responsible for the electricity and water; we also depend on such to perform our duties and therefore cannot unfairly be judged as inefficient because of the failures of others elsewhere.”
The publication is still awaiting confirmation from Centlec regarding the cause of the weekend power outage that affected Heidedal, Grassland, Shannon, Pine Haven, Eastend, and Bloemspruit.
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