The Department of Health has suspended Mabotwane Security guards who were recently captured on video physically assaulting and harassing a patient at Shongwe Hospital.

A video of the three security guards beating and harassing the women, who is allegedly suffering from a mental illness, went viral on social media.
It is alleged that this unknown female patient was trying to escape from the hospital.

READ: Rob postpones pensioner’s op for sixth time

A community member whot witnessed the incident, Nomsa Khoza, said, “What the security guards did is not fair to the patient. I saw them when they were dragging, harassing and beating the poor woman. When they pulled her dress up, it revealed her private parts, because she was not wearing any underwear. In fact, many people who visited the hospital on Saturday saw this.

“It is clear that gender-based violence is far from over. As the community, we are not happy about how our loved one’s are being treated at that hospital.”

ALSO READ: Family accuses Themba Hospital of negligence

The Department of Health’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, said, “The department received a complaint about a patient who had allegedly been assaulted at Shongwe Hospital in Nkomazi Local Municipality, by some security personnel. The security personnel implicated were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. The internal investigation conducted had not been finalised and a final report has been handed over to the head of the health department. She is currently studying the report and will soon pronounce its findings.”