Team appointed to probe death at Witrand Psychiatric Hospital
A nine-member investigation team has been appointed to probe the alleged death of a long-term patient at Witrand Psychiatric Hospital in the North West province.
North West MEC for Health Sello Lehari appointed the team on Tuesday, which will also investigate a separate incident involving a patient who allegedly absconded from Mahikeng Provincial Hospital.
Probe
North West Health Department spokesperson Tshegofatso Mothibedi said the investigation team, led by seasoned clinician Professor John Tumbo, comprises experienced managers from diverse disciplines and areas of expertise to ensure a thorough and objective inquiry.
ALSO READ: Fire claims patient in female psych unit at Dr George Mukhari Hospital
'While acknowledging that the incident at Witrand Psychiatric Hospital is also under police investigation, MEC Lehari urged the public and affected parties to allow both the internal and police inquiries to unfold without interference.'
Transparency
Lehari emphasised the department's commitment to accountability and transparency.
'We acted swiftly when we picked up reports circulating on social media regarding the alleged death of a long-term patient at the hospital. I visited the hospital on Saturday to receive a preliminary report. As I promised, today I am here to officially announce the team that will conduct the investigation into this matter. This team will also look into the case of a patient who allegedly absconded from Mahikeng Provincial Hospital.
'We are deeply concerned about these incidents and are determined to get to the bottom of what transpired. We owe it to the families, the patients, and the broader community to ensure that the matter is thoroughly probed,' Lehari said.
Findings
Lehari added that the terms of reference for the investigation have been finalised and handed over to the team, which is expected to commence its work immediately.
The investigation team is expected to present the report and its findings to the MEC by 1 August 2025.
Concerns
Concerns over Witrand Hospital's conditions are not new.
Workers at the hospital allege that the lack of adequate food, toiletries, and regular power outages has contributed to patient illnesses and deaths.
According to the workers, equipment in the laundry facility, including boilers, is out of order, forcing patients to bathe in cold water and contend with dirty clothes and linen.
ALSO READ: Alarm raised over 'R1.7bn fire safety gap' at Charlotte Maxeke hospital
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ex-mine workers urged to claim long-due compensation in Ekurhuleni
The department is urging ex-mine workers in Ekurhuleni to register for unclaimed medical and compensation benefits. The Gauteng department of health, in partnership with the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases, has launched phase two of the Ex-Mine Workers Social Security Benefits Programme. This programme is being implemented in Ekurhuleni. This rollout follows the successful implementation of phase one in the West Rand district. More than 9 000 people were reached in that phase, and 539 completed benefit medical examination tests. Targeting those affected by mine-related illnesses The initiative seeks to trace, register and screen former mine workers. These workers contracted occupational lung diseases such as silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) during their employment. Many left the industry without receiving compensation. The programme also extends to the families of deceased mine workers who may qualify for unclaimed benefits. 'It is crucial for ex-mine workers and their families to understand that addressing eligibility issues is essential. This ensures that deserving individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to,' said the department in a statement. ALSO READ: Gauteng health MEC warns against denying foreign nationals health care access Where to register According to the department, eligible ex-mine workers and their families in the Ekurhuleni district are encouraged to register at the following venues. You can do so between Monday, 21 July and Friday, 22 August 2025, from 8am to 4pm on weekdays: Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital, Training Centre Hall (Vosloorus); Bertha Gxowa Hospital, Dr. Clarence Mini Hall (Germiston); Tambo Memorial Hospital, Villa Nerina Hall (Boksburg); and Pholosong Hospital, Auditorium and Lapa (Tsakane). 'To streamline the process, communities are urged to bring their Makhuluskop (mineworker's identity card), ID documents, and any paperwork received from their mining companies,' it added. For more information on eligibility and the registration process, contact the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases call centre at 080-100-0240. NOW READ: New board members across Gauteng hospitals
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Limpopo sees 7 000 circumcised in HIV prevention drive
LIMPOPO – The MEC for Health, Dieketseng Mashego, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing progress of the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programme, which continues to demonstrate strong uptake across various districts. Since the MEC launched the programme on Friday, June 20, to date, over 7 000 males have undergone safe medical circumcision through the programme, reflecting encouraging momentum in the province's efforts to strengthen HIV prevention and promote men's health. Notably, more than 700 of those circumcised are aged 15 years and above, signalling increased participation from adolescents and young adults. District-level data shows that Vhembe continues to lead with 1 608 procedures conducted, followed closely by Waterberg with 1 220. Read more: Limpopo Health launches male circumcision drive to fight HIV Mopani and Sekhukhune follow with just above a thousand while Capricorn is just below 1 000. Institutionally, the top three performing sites are Dilokong District Hospital in Sekhukhune, Tshilidzini Regional Hospital in Vhembe as well as Thabaleshoba Community Health Centre in Waterburg. The MEC commended the commitment of healthcare workers and community mobilisers who are driving awareness and access to VMMC services in these regions. Over a hundred sites are open across the province, and interested members of the public are still encouraged to register. 'We are pleased with the progress made so far. The number of men coming forward for circumcision demonstrates growing awareness and acceptance of the health benefits associated with this important programme. We urge parents, guardians, and male adults who wish to take part in the programme to enquire and register at the facility closest to them,' said Mashego. The department reiterates that the VMMC programme is voluntary, safe, and free of charge, and all procedures are performed by trained medical professionals in line with national health guidelines. The programme is open to males aged 10 years and older, and ongoing community outreach efforts aim to ensure that even more eligible individuals can access these essential services. For more information, members of the public are encouraged to enquire at their nearest clinic or facility. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
New R14 million CT scanner at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital promises faster patient care
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and officials admire the new 128-slice CT scanner at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital patients will receive faster and more efficient care now that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has procured a CT scanner worth approximately R14 million. On Thursday, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and several officials were at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital to unveil the R14m state-of-the-art CT scanner. Simelane expressed her excitement over the CT scan since the old scan, which had been problematic for more than two years, finally gave up in December last year. It was also difficult to get different parts because it was old. This forced the department to discontinue its use and procure a new machine. The old machine had 16 slices while the new one has 128 slices. 'That impacts the swift response to patients,' Simelane said. 'Allowing more patients to access it, allowing patients to get results as quickly as possible.' 'It is really going to be a game changer for this hospital, considering that this hospital sees over 1,500 patients a day. So you certainly need equipment that's going to allow the hospital to actually do the work in the most efficient way.' Councilor Zamazulu Sokhabase, KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, and Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital board deputy Nompumelelo Sithole cutting the ribbon during the unveiling of a new CT scanner on Thursday. Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers Simelane said it was not a cheap machine. 'That is why, as a department, we couldn't just outright buy a new machine and replace the old one; we had to try and use it as far as we could.' She said last year, she received several complaints from patients saying they had been waiting for a CT scan at the hospital, and others said they were turned back because the machine was not working. 'As the healthcare fraternity, we are concerned about the sharp global increase in cancer cases — globally, across the African continent, in South Africa, and right here in KwaZulu-Natal,' Simelane said. 'The importance of early detection cannot be overstated, particularly when it comes to cancer, which is a disease that spreads quickly. Every day counts. Early diagnosis leads to better treatment outcomes. This CT scanner enables quicker detection, faster treatment initiation, and ultimately, better survival rates, especially for cancer patients,' Simelane said. 'So this one is going to be a game changer, and the people who are utilising this facility are going to benefit immensely. 'This is the first for us in the province, and we are going to be rolling it out to other facilities in the rest of the province.' KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and officials admire the R14 million 128-slice CT scan at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. Image: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers Devon Harripersad, a sales representative for AXIM, which provides radiological and imaging solutions to Sub-Saharan Africa, said it is a 128-slice machine, meaning that per second, the machine is slicing, taking out X-rays of a patient. 'You can do a full body scan within seconds, which means that your time limit is reduced, the patient number is increased, and you can do many more studies in terms of this new machine,' Harripersad explained. 'This will help alleviate the backlog.' Harripersad said the machine can be used for cancer and orthopaedics, among others. He also explained that certain studies require them to inject a patient. It is like a dye, it differentiates all the organs from each other and all the tissues, from bone.
