​Rofhiwa Marubini 
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has announced that Charlotte Maxeke hospital will be opened in phases with the oncology unit being the first to open subject to minimum safety standards being complied with and necessary approvals issued by authorities.
Makhura was speaking at the Command Council media update on Friday, 4 June 2021 in Ormonde, Johannesburg.  
Premier Makhura said the pressure in hospitals is mounting as COVID-19 admissions continue to increase.
"The pressure is quite severe. There is an increase in COVID-19 admission and other facilities want Charlotte Maxeke hospital to reopen because they were also referring patients there," said Makhura.
Premier Makhura also announced that the provincial government wants to declare a local state of disaster at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. 
"This may enable us not to wait for three months before all those issues are fixed. I can't throw a rule book when people are dying", said Makhura. 
The hospital has been closed since a fire broke out in the hospital on 16 April 2021.
Not all parts of the hospital were damaged. The fire was confined to block 4 of the hospital which includes the storage facility, mortuary and multi-storey parking bays. 
All necessary refurbishments on the Oncology building have been completed and the City of Johannesburg will be conducting a final inspection, after which necessary approvals will be issued to allow for resumption of the service.