A man has been arrested after allegedly stealing hospital water taps and vandalising infrastructure at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, the Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed.
The incident took place on Saturday evening, 11 July, at around 7:20pm when CCTV operators spotted a suspect on the roof of the hospital’s Main Kitchen building. Security personnel responded immediately and arrested the man outside the facility.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspect allegedly entered the area through the Main Kitchen plant room behind the Dental Unit after gaining access via an unsecured burglar door leading to the kitchen balcony.
Following his arrest, the suspect reportedly led security officers to an area outside Ward 15 where several stolen hospital water taps had been hidden.
Authorities believe the suspect may have stolen taps from different parts of the hospital, including Ward 40, over the past few weeks.
A criminal case has been opened at Diepkloof Police Station, and the suspect has been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
The Gauteng Department of Health said it has already implemented measures to secure the affected area and is conducting a broader assessment of rooftop and plant room access points across the hospital to prevent similar incidents.
The department condemned the theft and vandalism, warning that damage to public healthcare infrastructure disrupts service delivery and negatively affects patients who rely on government healthcare facilities.
It also urged members of the public to help protect public property by reporting any suspicious activity to hospital management or the police.
