The Gauteng provincial government has laid the blame for the partial roof collapse at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital at the door of the contractor doing waterproofing on the roof.

Speaking at an impromptu press conference held at the hospital‚ the Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development Jacob Mamabolo said the contractor clearly “has a case to answer”.

Mamabolo said the contractor had moved “concrete” that was spread across the roof and piled it onto one section of roof‚ overloading that portion of the structure. The contractor was hired to waterproof the roof.

“They actually put it on the side. Because of the weight it basically overweighted the roof and then it collapsed‚” he said.

Earlier a doctor who works at the hospital told TimesLIVE that the roof was covered in gravel which was all moved across to a small section of the roof‚ causing that section to cave in.

Mamabolo said a preliminary investigation revealed that the contractor “did not do a proper check of the capacity of the structure of the buildings to carry that weight.”

He also said the contractor had not placed the relevant warning signs in the hospital.

“It is very clear‚ the contractor‚ the manner in which they worked – they need to be held accountable‚” Mamabolo said.

He added that the contractor would be “removed off the site with immediate effect.”

“We are definitely going to hold them accountable to the questions that we’ve asked. They have got a case to answer. We will conduct a further investigation on any other issue‚” he said.

Mamabolo was joined by incoming Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa who said most of those injured had already been treated and discharged.

Seven people were injured and two people are believed to be trapped.