The DA calls on the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to intervene and investigate the three nurses who recently went viral on social media for allegedly assaulting and mistreating a naked patient in Tonga Hospital.

According to the DA’s health spokesperson of the Mpumalanga Legislature, Bosman Grobler, a disturbing video of the nurses recently circulated on social media platforms in which they were seen assaulting and mistreating Lydia Makhoba, a patient at Tonga Hospital while she was lying naked on the floor.

“The nurses also allegedly used harsh words with the patient and mishandled her when trying to place her back on the bed with the assistance of others. Makhoba was admitted at the hospital on March 13 due to a diabetic foot and hypertension. She has since been reported to have died this week. The cause of her death has not yet been released,“ he said.

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Bosman said although the DA welcomes the department and MEC Sasekani Manzini’s commitment to investigate the whole incident they we also want them to refer this matter to the HPCSA to do their own investigations.

“Currently, the Mpumalanga Department of Health faces numerous medical negligence claims, with a significant financial burden, including claims totalling over R10b and a high number of cases currently under investigation. The DA demands the provincial Department of Health to introduce strict disciplinary measures for the healthcare professionals who are continuously exposing it to billions of rands in medical negligence claims. We also ask the department to address the issues of staff shortage in clinics and hospitals, old and dilapidated infrastructure. Nurses are always tired because they are overworked,” said Bosman.

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While the spokesperson of health, Dumisani Malamule, said the department will take disciplinary actions against the three nurses at Tonga Hospital. This after allegations of assault surfaced against them. “Our preliminary investigation found the female patient had called for help and requested a bed pan after having taken Lactulose for constipation. When the nurses went to fetch the bed pan, the patient crawled out of the bed trying to reach to the toilet. When the nurses returned with the bed pan, the patient had already messed on the floor,” he said.

Malamule also said, according to the nurses who allegedly assaulted the patient, they got assistance from porters to lift her back onto the bed due to her body size.

The patient was interviewed about the incident and indicated that the professional nurses used harsh words and mishandled her while they assisted her back onto the bed. “Makhoba indicated that the nurses did not beat her, but they did mishandled her. The nurses admitted that they grabbed Makhoba too roughly while they were assisting her back to bed. The department also interviewed the patient sleeping next to the victim and she confirmed what Makhoba said,” Malamule said.

He further said the three nurses who were on duty were summoned to give explanations and write statements. Following this incident they will be subjected to disciplinary hearing processes.