Western Cape wants more hospitals exempted from blackouts

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape health authorities want more facilities to be exempt from blackouts.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla says 37 hospitals are already excluded, including three in the Western Cape.

But the provincial health department says the three -- Red Cross War Memorial, Tygerberg and Groote Schuur Hospitals -- have been exempt for the last four years.

It wants other hospitals -- nine on the City of Cape Town’s power grid and ten on Eskom’s -- safe from blackouts.

Authorities are in talks with the municipality and Eskom to have these facilities considered for exemption.