The Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane has suspended five nurses following allegations of gross negligence.

In a statement, Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says the suspension emanates from an incident at the hospital involving a 28-year-old man, which was captured on video by a member of the public at the Emergency Unit on Sunday.

In the video that has since gone viral on social media platforms, patients are seen dragging a nurse out of an office, demanding that she assist the male patient.

“Do your job… you’re busy on your phone… The man is dying, do something… help him,” the patients can be heard shouting as they lift the man onto a stretcher.

Sadly, the 28-year-old man died later in hospital.

Here is the video:

Steve Biko Hospital (Previously Pretoria Academic Hospital and before that HF Verwoerd Hospital).

The staff was too useless to help the man on the floor, he apparently died the next day.

Seems like the name change worked and it’s a good thing it’s not an Apartheid Hospital.
RIP pic.twitter.com/Stb2PuVZWI

— Koos de la Rey (@KoosdlRey) March 5, 2024

“The unfortunate incident happens at the time when the Steve Biko hospital is strengthening interventions to improve patients experience of care.

“Those measures include the launch of the Gauteng Department of Health’s ‘Serve with A Smile Campaign’ which is a change management programme aimed at improving staff attitude and quality of services.”

He adds the hospital management has been conducting frequent walkabouts across various hospital departments to assess the service delivery level and to interact with patients.

“The facility management continues to engage the affected family to enable the redress process to unfold. Counselling services have also been offered to the family,” Modiba adds.

In a separate incident, the hospital experienced low levels of oxygen due to copper theft.

The theft took place early on Saturday, though the hospital was able to restore its oxygen levels within the hour – at 11:20.

CEO Dr Lehlohonolo Majake said though the hospital was able to restore its oxygen levels, 400t of oxygen were wasted.

“We ascertained there were 400 tons of oxygen lost, however there was enough oxygen remaining for the day’s usage,” added Majake.