Granny (67) talks about her ‘hell in Pretoria east hospital’

The elderly woman found tied up at the Mamelodi regional hospital last week is recuperating well at her Eersterust home, Rekord Moot reports.

“I am alright,” Martha Marais (67) said when the media visited her at home on Tuesday.

She was admitted to the hospital for vomiting and discharged on 1 June.

“I was just glad to get away from there. When I got home I wasn’t in the mood for anything, I just wanted to sleep in my own bed.”

Less than 24 hours into her hospital stay, her family discovered her on the floor tied up to a steel bench.

“I prayed for my life, I thought I was going to die,” Marais recalls as she bursts into tears.

Family representative Virginia Keppler told the media this was the first time Marais has cried since the incident.

“It was so cold on the floor,” Marais explains.

“I am scared. Scared of that steel bench, scared of those people who was suspended, I am scared they will come to my house and hurt me.”

A total of four Mamelodi hospital staff members and a security guard were placed on ‘special leave’ at the weekend.

“A preliminary investigation has identified three doctors, one nurse and an external security guard involved in the case of the elderly woman,” Lesemang Matuka, Director of Communication at the Gauteng Department of Health told the media.

The family has since opened a case of assault at the Mamelodi east police station.

On Monday, a doctor, nurse and psychologist brought Martha a brand new pair of crutches after hers disappeared at the hospital.

Keppler and Marais have made a special video to thank the community for its support during her ordeal.