BUSHBUCKRIDGE – According to the department, the incident was captured on video and shared on social media.

It had occurred in November, but only now surfaced on social media.

The DoH spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, said, “The cleaner was suspended with immediate effect. She was seen to be assaulting a patient in Oakley Clinic, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, on video. It is alleged that the patient visited the clinic to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and a scuffle ensued. It is further alleged that the cleaner assaulted the patient.

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The department has suspended the implicated worker pending an intensive investigation on what really transpired.” The MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, raised her concerns about the incident.

“We are in a process of getting all the facts of what transpired during the incident. As a department, we cannot condone an assault on anyone, let alone patients, thus we have suspended the implicated employee with immediate effect pending the outcome of the investigations.”

She said the investigations are currently ongoing and the department would decide on the next cause of action once all the facts have been gathered. “We request everyone to remain calm while the department is investigating the matter. Further details will be shared as the investigation is ongoing.”