Johannesburg — Power outages have disrupted services at several health facilities across Gauteng, with clinics in the Johannesburg district and a Soweto facility among those affected, the provincial health department said on Saturday evening.
Backup generators sustaining essential services
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) said severe weather and pressure on the electricity grid were responsible for the outages, with Johannesburg the worst affected area.
Clinics that reported power loss included Eyethu Yarona, Diepsloot South, Tshepisong and Moroka Clinic in Soweto. In Ekurhuleni, Winnie Mandela Clinic was also without power at nightfall.
GDoH spokesperson Steve Mabona said backup generators were helping to keep essential services running while technical teams attended to problems.
"Backup generators are helping keep essential services running," Mabona said.
He added that teams were on site at Winnie Mandela Clinic specifically to work on the facility's generator and restore the backup power system.
Monitoring readiness and fuel availability
The department said it was monitoring generator functionality and fuel availability across facilities to limit disruption to patient care.
"GDoH will continue working with relevant technical teams and electricity utilities to monitor the situation and respond to power supply challenges affecting health facilities," Mabona said.
Officials did not provide a timetable for full restoration of municipal or grid power at the affected clinics. The department's emphasis was on ensuring backup systems remained operational and that critical services continued without interruption.
Immediate impact and practical implications
When clinics switch to generator power they can usually continue core activities such as emergency treatment, medication storage and basic diagnostics. However, some services may be limited or delayed depending on generator capacity and fuel supplies. Patients and caregivers in affected communities may experience longer waits, reduced appointment availability or temporary suspension of non-urgent services until full power returns.
- Facilities named as affected: Eyethu Yarona, Diepsloot South, Tshepisong, Moroka Clinic (Soweto), Winnie Mandela Clinic (Ekurhuleni).
- Department action: Monitoring generator readiness, deploying technical teams, co-ordinating with electricity utilities.
- Immediate risk: Disruption to some services though essential care maintained on backup power.
What patients should do
People with scheduled clinic visits or patients collecting chronic medication should contact their facility before travelling if possible, or seek updates from local clinics' public notices. Those requiring emergency care should proceed to the nearest facility; clinics operating on generator power remain able to provide essential emergency services, the department said.
Wider context
While the department linked the outages to severe weather and grid pressure, it underlined the need to maintain backup systems and fuel stocks to protect services. The statement confirmed ongoing co-operation between health technical teams and electricity utilities — a routine but vital part of contingency planning for health infrastructure when external power is compromised.
As this is a developing operational issue, the department will continue to monitor generator functionality and fuel availability at health facilities across the province and respond where needed.
| Facility | Location | Status (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Eyethu Yarona | Johannesburg district | Operating on backup generator |
| Diepsloot South | Johannesburg district | Operating on backup generator |
| Tshepisong | Johannesburg district | Operating on backup generator |
| Moroka Clinic | Soweto | Operating on backup generator |
| Winnie Mandela Clinic | Ekurhuleni | Technical teams attending to generator |
The GDoH said it will keep monitoring and responding to power supply challenges affecting health facilities. Residents requiring up-to-date information should follow official Gauteng health channels for notices and advisories.
