Here’s how much has been spent so far on fixing Charlotte Maxeke Hospital

The parking lot at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital after the fire that started on 20 April 2021. Picture: Nigel Sibanda Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has revealed that more than R353 million has been spent so far on repairing and restoring the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, which was gutted by a fire in 2021. Responding to a written parliamentary question from IFP MP Nompumelelo Mhlongo, Motsoaledi said the expenditure covered a wide range of restoration activities.

“This expenditure includes professional services, demolition, structural rehabilitation, temporary works, specialist investigations, replacement of mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and associated construction activities,” he said. According to figures supplied by the minister, the total amount spent since the project began was R353 669 357.83. This was made up of R20 923 176.12 in professional service provider fees, R153 485 247.08 in construction costs, R163 225 488.10 in propping costs, and R16 035 446.53 in implementing agent fees.

Motsoaledi said the money had been spent progressively since the 2022/2023 financial year, with spending rising sharply as reconstruction work intensified. He noted that as at 1 June 2026, “approximately 75% of the planned remedial infrastructure works have been completed.” The minister explained that the completed work included structural repairs and the demolition and reconstruction of fire-damaged areas. “Progress has been made in structural repairs, demolition, and reconstruction of fire-damaged areas, installation of building services, and phased reinstatement of clinical levels,” he said.

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Motsoaledi said the remaining repairs were concentrated in the parts of the hospital that had suffered the worst fire damage. He said the outstanding work included brickwork, surface beds, mechanical and electrical services, and internal finishes on the more severely affected floors, as well as commissioning and regulatory compliance processes.

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