​The Gauteng Department of Health's (GDoH) Infrastructure Unit has prioritised the fixing of critical infrastructure such as boilers, chillers, heat pump and air conditioners which come under pressure during the winter season due to heavy usage and aged equipment that has reached its lifespan.
Recently, in May 2025 several facilities experienced the visible effects of aging infrastructure when breakdowns in the boiler system resulted in inconsistent supply of hot water.
However, the GDoH has contractors on stand-by to respond to emergencies and they were able to respond to the distress calls at facilities which ensured that all affected facilities had hot water supply restored. 
"The reality we are facing is that critical equipment such as boilers, chillers, heat pump, air conditioners etc. are old and were not serviced appropriately for a long time. This is one of the reasons we have now capacitated the departmental infrastructure unit so that it has the ability to implement the maintenance programme in-house," explains MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko adding that the department has set aside R100 million in the current financial year to recapitalise critical equipment across facilities.
At Bertha Gxowa Hospital, the hot water compressors that were malfunctioning, have since been repaired and serviced. Edenvale Hospital also faced challenges with the boiler system, but necessary repairs have been completed. Pretoria West Hospital had leaking steam pipes while Sterkfontein Hospital experienced leaking steam pipes and needed replacement of calorifiers, which have since been attended to. 
At Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) the contractor has successfully repaired the calorifiers in block five. Similar challenges with calorifiers reported at Kalafong Hospital were repaired and the issues are now resolved. 
Meanwhile, Tambo Memorial Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital and Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital have access to hot water, the contractor is onsite conducting repairs of the problematic calorifiers. 
Far East Rand Hospital also encountered difficulties with hot water, but a contractor has been dispatched to replace the aging calorifiers, which is expected to be complete by this weekend.
Infrastructure maintenance and replacement is receiving priority across service platforms as the department accelerates service provision.