Gauteng Health Dept says efforts underway to provide alternative energy to its facilities

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng’s Department of Health said efforts are underway to provide alternative energy to its facilities to minimise the impact of power outages. 

The department explained that these plans are part of the Gauteng government's sustainable energy programme.  

The revelation came after Eskom’s implementation of stage 6 load shedding over the weekend, following the failure of multiple generation units at two of its power stations.    

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Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said this initiative includes providing solar and battery storage technologies to its facilities.  

Modiba added that centres like Lilian Ngoyi Community Health Centre, Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital, and Kliptown Clinic already have alternative energy sources installed.  

“This is to ensure that we minimise the impact of the service supply interruptions and also, in the 2025/2026 financial year, as part of phase two, more facilities will be added into the mix of those that will now also have solar energy installed in those particular facilities."  

LOAD SHEDDING WON’T HINDER OPERATIONS

The department assured patients that the current load shedding would not hinder operations at its hospitals.  

The department explained that of the 37 hospitals in Gauteng, half are equipped with generators, while the rest are exempt from scheduled outages due to their geographical location.  

“In Gauteng, most of our health facilities have got backup generators to be able to render services when there is a power supply interruption,” said the Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba.