Five more hospitals in the Western Cape have been exempted from load-shedding, bringing the total number of hospitals protected in the province to eight.

The move follows an urgent media briefing at the end of last month by Provincial Health MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, following an announcement by her national counterpart, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla.

Since then, the City of Cape Town and Eskom have made progress in exempting other hospitals.

Tygerberg, Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospitals were already exempt prior to the request for the additional 19 other hospitals.

New Somerset Hospital, Mitchells Plain Hospital, Karl Bremer Hospital, Victoria Hospital and George Hospital will now join the growing list of hospitals that will be excluded from load-shedding.