DA raises alarm over food shortages at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says patients at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital are experiencing food shortages following the closure of the Masakhane Cook Freeze Factory in Tshwane. The factory was ordered to close by city inspectors after tests detected E. Coli bacteria in its meals.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dr. Jack Bloom, the DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, said he discovered the problem during a visit to the hospital on Tuesday. He said that while the hospital kitchen is providing breakfast and supper, plated meals for lunch have not been delivered since the factory’s closure.

“Yesterday, patients only received a slice of bread with margarine and cheese for lunch,” Bloom said. He added that patients usually receive a full meal consisting of meat, vegetables, and a starch. A nurse at the hospital confirmed that the lunch shortages began last week and that relatives have been bringing food to patients.

The Masakhane Cook Freeze Factory serves six hospitals and seventeen Community Health Centres in Gauteng, preparing approximately 8 000 plates daily. Facilities affected by the closure include Charlotte Maxeke, Jubilee, Odi, Tshwane District, Bronkhorstspruit, and Lenasia District hospitals.

Bloom said the closure is linked to food safety concerns following inspections and that the factory had failed to meet required standards. The factory has been a key supplier for hospitals in the province, and its closure has disrupted regular meal delivery to patients.

Provincial health authorities are expected to provide updates on measures to restore full meal services while ensuring food safety. In the meantime, patients at Charlotte Maxeke and other affected hospitals continue to receive limited meals.