Empumelelweni Clinic staff refuse to work after tragic incident
This decision comes in after a tragic incident involving a 4-month-old baby who passed away at the clinic on May 16, allegedly due to delayed service.
It’s a rollercoaster of events in Empumelelweni Clinic. Tensions are running high as nurses have refused to work, citing trauma and safety concerns.
This follows the death of a four-month-old baby who died in the early hours of May 16 at Empumelelweni clinic after the mother was allegedly denied service for not providing the baby’s ‘road to health’ card.
The nurse’s refusal to work has left patients in a difficult situation, with reports emerging of a heavily pregnant woman being turned away despite her urgent needs.
A four-month-old baby dies allegedly due to delayed health assistance in Empumelelweni
Read more: https://t.co/R8XUuoXIp9#WitbankNews #Witbank #emalahleni #empumelelweni— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) May 16, 2025
@witbanknews This decision comes in after a tragic incident involving a 4-month-old baby who passed away at the clinic on May 16, allegedly due to delayed service. #witbanknews #witbank #eMalahleni #empumelelweni #departmentofhealth ♬ original sound – witbanknews
Members of the community, EFF, ANC, MK and Sanco who have gathered at Empumelelweni Clinic to demand answers regarding the death of the 4-month-old baby have kindly asked from the onset that the clinic staff continue with their duty regardless of their presence. However, the staff mentioned that they are not comfortable working, as they do not feel safe.
“As you mandated me to go inside and tell the health staff about your demands, they have also responded. They said they are not comfortable with helping, and whatever the community can do, it’s fine. For as long as the brigadier hasn’t deployed police officers at the clinic, they feel like something might happen,” said Athenkosi Botha from the Department of Health after he was sent by members of the community to ask the staff to continue with their duties.
This decision has left members of the community, EFF, ANC, MK and Sanco frustrated, as they were not intending any act of threat to the staff.
An enquiry about the incident has been sent to Health Spokesperson Prince Nobela, who has not yet responded.
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