The Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development, Bheki Nkosi, has given assurance that the old and out of date lifts in blocks 1 and 2 at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital will be replaced by new ones by the end of this financial year.
Charlotte Maxeke has five blocks with each block having a set of 4 lifts per block. The lifts in Blocks 3, 4 and 5 are functional because they are new sets of lifts installed as part of the phase 1 of the lifts replacement programme across all Gauteng public facilities. They have been installed and are being maintained by Koyo Elevators.
Block 1 has four sets of lifts and so does Block 2. These are the two blocks with lifts that are not functioning at the moment and all 8 of them are on the schedule for replacement as part of department’s project 274, with an additional 6 lifts installed at the nurses quarters in Charlotte Maxeke” said Bheki Nkosi.
Of the eight lifts in block 1 and 2, five are totally irreparable and three have been problematic such that they function and stop functioning abruptly.These lifts are beyond 35 years with outdated technology and makes maintenance difficult as spares cannot be found.
The department has managed to modernise one of the lifts in the affected two blocks. This lift has been working until it broke down recently due to overuse. Being the only lift that has been working, it served as patients and visitors’ lift as well as goods lifts, carrying food, linen, stock deliveries, waste, etc.
In the meantime, the department has commissioned the repairs on the one that has been working in Blocks 1 and 2. Parallel to this, we have already received quotations for the modernisation of another lift so that we have two working in blocks 1 and 2. This will ease pressure on the only one that has been operating.
The process of awarding the tender for the new lifts will be concluded shortly.
For enquiries contact:
Philemon Motshwaedi
Tel: 011 355 5105
Cell: 083 648 6870
E-mail philemon.motshwaedi@gauteng.gov.za
Charlotte Maxeke lifts will be replaced this year
Province
