The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) said it is aware of the complaint laid by family members of the late Simphiwe Mbalekwa Mahlangu (24) from Mamelodi East section SNS.

The family claims that the deceased’s cellphone went missing after he passed away at Mamelodi Regional Hospital.

The family demanded answers on how their loved one’s cellphone mysteriously went missing at the hospital on March 18.

However, the hospital could not replace or compensate the family or take full responsibility for the missing cellphone because the patient did not hand over the cellphone for safekeeping.

GDoH spokesperson Philani Mhlungu said the hospital is only responsible for valuables that are handed over for safekeeping.

Mhlungu said the hospital has a disclaimer board that is prominently displayed at the hospital entrance and unit entrance, notifying patients that cellphones are prohibited.

“The hospital is only responsible for valuables that are handed over for safekeeping,” said Mhlungu.

Mhlungu further said that upon admission, patients are advised that they assume full responsibility for their valuables, including cellphones, unless they are entrusted to the nursing staff for safekeeping.

Mother of the deceased, Duduzile Mahlangu (54), said they had been communicating with his son on his cellphone until he passed away.

She said that she notified the hospital staff right away about the missing phone when they handed over her son’s belongings at the hospital, but the staff did not know what happened to his cellphone.

“One of the nurses on duty in Ward 3 handed us his clothes, blankets, food, a wallet with a cash amount of R140, and his cellphone charger,” she said.

She said they wrote letters to the hospital management until the hospital finally arranged a meeting on April 13.

“But we were told that the hospital will not be held liable for the missing cellphone and that their nurses are not thieves,” she said.

Mahlangu said the hospital insisted that they had already interviewed and finished the investigation.

“The hospital management told us that the nurses at the hospital are not thieves and someone must have stolen the cellphone,” she said.

The family also claimed they were not allowed to see the CCTV footage. The clinic insisted there are no cameras in the hospital ward for privacy reasons.

The hospital management further said that if the cellphone were an iPhone, they could have traced it.

The family further said the deceased’s cellphone could have information that could help them.

The hospital management offered the mother of the deceased counselling to help her heal.

The Mahlangu family pleaded with the hospital to compensate or replace the missing cellphone. They claimed [the cellphone was] the last thing they remember their son having, and offering the deceased mother counselling will not bring his memory back.

Mahlangu was laid to rest at Heatherly Cemetery on March 25.

ALSO READ: Deceased’s family demands hospital compensation for missing cellphone

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