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IOL News
23-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Samatu calls for investigation following death of KZN medical intern at hospital
An intern doctor, who had been ill, died while on duty at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in uMlazi this week. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) has called for an investigation into the death of a medical intern doctor at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in uMlazi. Dr Alulutho Mazwi, who died on Monday reportedly while on duty at the hospita,l had recently been diagnosed with diabetes. It is alleged that he had been ill, but had been instructed to work. The KZN Department of Health conveyed its condolences regarding Dr Mazwi's passing but has not yet addressed the allegations. Samatu condemned the intern's death, describing it as a result of 'inhumane treatment.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Samatu in KwaZulu-Natal is saddened by the passing of a medical intern at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital who was forced to report for duty by his superiors despite his ill-health,' the union said in a statement. 'This devastating incident highlights the urgent need to address the unacceptable working conditions and treatment that most junior doctors, especially interns, are subjected to by their supervisors.' The union noted that junior doctors often face threats of not being signed off for completing their rotations if they raise concerns. 'We as doctors still ill-treat each other instead of standing in solidarity against all these challenges,' it said. It has called for the hospital's management to conduct a full investigation and said it remains committed to fighting for the welfare of all doctors. The Democratic Alliance's KZN spokesperson on health, Dr Imraan Keeka, has reiterated calls for a thorough investigation. 'We extend our most profound condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of a young intern doctor who passed away at Durban's Prince Mshiyeni Hospital on Tuesday,' he said. 'It is alleged that the young man was overworked by one of his senior doctors despite the knowledge that he was very ill at the time. We have also noted the call by Samatu for a full investigation into Dr Mazwi's untimely death and we strongly reiterate this call,' Keeka said. He confirmed that a senior official from the provincial Department of Health had already visited the hospital to establish what had happened but stressed that this alone was not enough. 'There must be consequences for the senior doctor's actions. This could range from criminal charges and then charges of professional misconduct with the HPCSA (Health Processions Council of South Africa), and eventually possibly even a loss of job.' Dr Keeka added: 'The ill-treatment, bullying, overworking and inhumane treatment of some junior doctors by senior doctors is not unusual and not unknown, yet far too many remain suffering in silence for fear of reprisal. And now one such doctor has lost his life.' Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health in Parliament, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has also expressed his condolences and called for urgent introspection within the health system. 'We recognise the immense loss felt by the hospital staff, who witnessed the intern's struggle and the impact of systemic failures in our healthcare system,' he said. Dr Dhlomo said the death of a promising young doctor who had only recently been diagnosed with diabetes and was still working despite serious health challenges 'should have been managed with the utmost urgency and care.'
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Family claim Indian medical manager was racist
AN INDIAN medical manager at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, in Durban, is under investigation by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of health following the death of an intern doctor who was allegedly forced to report for duty while being 'quite sick'. She has been placed on precautionary suspension. Dr Alulutho Mazwi, 25, was doing his in-service training at the hospital's paediatric unit. The department of health has denied allegations of racism. However, Alulutho's uncle, Vumani Mazwi, said he believed that racism was the root cause of his nephew's death. He told the POST that his nephew was diabetic but it was 'not too serious'. 'He did gain a lot of weight which could have caused related issues for him. Alulutho collapsed while at work. He was not fit to work but he was forced to return to work by his medical manager. 'He told his colleague that he was feeling weak and out of breath. The medical manager called some doctors to check him but he collapsed. He died while they were rushing him to the ward,' said Mazwi. 'I have a feeling that the issue surrounding his death is racism. Before he went back to work, he complained about feeling sick but his medical manager refused to listen. Despite having a doctor's certificate, the medical manager took him to the hospital's clinic to verify if he was really sick. She blatantly undermined his initial doctor's orders. 'When the clinic checked Alulutho, they agreed that he should not work. But the medical manager did not listen. If she only listened to him, he would still be with us,' said Mazwi. Alulutho had communicated his ill health on WhatsApp to his medical manager. It read: 'Good morning Doc. I'm not feeling well today. Apologies for the inconvenience caused to the team.' The medical manager replied: 'Good morning, please view the message on the group. I expect you to be on duty.' Mazwi said Alulutho's parents were devastated at losing their only child. 'It was a very painful experience for them to view his body after we were informed about his death. It was traumatising to visit the mortuary,' he said. Mazwi said they had spoken to several of Alulutho's colleagues, and also gathered that his working conditions were bad. 'His colleagues told us of their terrible experiences and working conditions at the hospital. The room he stayed in at the hospital's residence was flooded. When I visited his room it was flooded. The toilet was not working and there was no water. I was upset at seeing the harsh conditions my nephew was subjected to,' said Mazwi. He said Alulutho started his in-service training at the hospital in 2024. 'Since then he was never able to attend any family functions because of his workload. He faced an overworked environment every-day. Only now we are seeing that the hospital is understaffed and they are using the interns to do the work. 'Those conditions are unhealthy. So many of the doctors shared their sad experiences with me. The government needs to address the needs of doctors, as their negligence is jeopardising the futures of our children. 'Alulutho was a kind, caring and brilliant child. He was always respectful and quiet. The fact that he was a child from the township that became a doctor at such a young age tells you how bright his future would have been,' said Mazwi. Yesterday, at a memorial service at the hospital for Alulutho, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) denied the allegations of racism as the cause of his death. Many of the staff who attended the memorial echoed the same sentiment and said the issue at hand was the lack of staff at the hospital which had led to doctor fatigue and in Alulutho's case, his death. Nduduzo Masango, from the KZN EFF Youth Command, said the reason for Alulutho's death was negligence by the government and not racism. 'We are against negligence and how the department of health has been governed by the MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, and the director general. This is not only happening in this hospital, but at most hospitals in KZN. Many facing collapse. The negligence on top of the lack of capacity leads to the doctors being overworked which was the case with Dr Mazwi,' said Masango. 'If we reduce this matter to racism it would be an incorrect focus. It is really about the system which is in place that is not functioning. This incident exposes the realities within the health care department in KZN. This hospital has had many issues including one where an ambulance entered the hospital, left the patient unattended and the person died. This hospital is famous - people say when you enter, you won't leave alive. 'Our people have lost confidence in public facilities. This hospital is for the people. It is meant to service the people of Umlazi. But it has been failing to deliver adequate services. The shortage of doctors is the real issue which needs to be addressed,' said Masango. Andile Mbeje, the provincial secretary of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, said they are upset about the conditions which Dr Mazwi had been forced to work under. 'We don't know if the issue was race. But we are upset about the manner in which he was treated. This colleague passed away in the line of duty and it doesn't sit well with all the other employees. According to our sources, he collapsed while on duty. The staff tried to resuscitate one of their own. But he passed away. 'This matter needs to be investigated and if that manager is found guilty, she needs to face the consequences,' said Mbeje. THE POST
Daily Maverick
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Health Ombud launches investigation into ‘heartbreaking' death of medical intern at KZN hospital
The death of Dr Alulutho Mazwi, a medical intern at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in KZN who was allegedly forced to work despite health problems, has been described as a 'heartbreaking' loss. The incident is being investigated by the South African Health Ombud. South African Health Ombud Professor Taole Mokoena has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a medical intern at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. The investigation, opened at the request of Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, will focus on determining the events leading up to the death of Dr Alulutho Mazwi (25), a newly diagnosed diabetic, on 12 May 2025. Mazwi was allegedly forced to report for work despite informing his superiors he was not well, and later collapsed during his shift. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Dr Mazwi's family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. This investigation aims to provide clarity and closure for those affected, helping them understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,' stated Mokoena. The Health Ombud's investigating team will also be evaluating the working conditions and support systems for medical interns and other health professionals at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital; identifying any systemic issues or lapses in protocol that may have contributed to Mazwi's death; and providing recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in future. Ricardo Mahlakanya, the spokesperson for the Health Ombud, told Daily Maverick that the estimated period for completing the investigation was six months. 'Heartbreaking' loss In a petition calling for justice for Mazwi, seemingly started by his romantic partner Lindokuhle Phathekile, he is described as a 'dedicated and compassionate' healthcare professional. 'Despite being visibly ill and battling a chronic condition, he continued to serve his patients selflessly. His unwavering commitment highlights the passion and dedication he had for his profession and the wellbeing of his patients,' states the petition. 'It's a grievous situation that Dr Mazwi, who should have been resting and recuperating, was compelled to work under such strenuous conditions. This tragedy not only highlights the dire working conditions faced by healthcare workers globally, but also underscores the necessity for implementing adequate workplace health policies that safeguard the wellbeing and safety of medical professionals.' In the petition, Phathekile calls for accountability for Mazwi's death, and the introduction and strict enforcement of improved health policies to prevent 'such heartbreaking incidents'. Suspension of supervisor Dr Zanele Bikitsha, the provincial chairperson of the South African Medical Association (Sama) in KwaZulu-Natal, said that the organisation had met with management at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and demanded the precautionary suspension of the supervisor implicated in Mazwi's death. She confirmed that the supervisor had since been placed on suspension. In that meeting, Sama also requested an independent investigation into the incident. 'We then asked, because we know [the incident is] not isolated, that they must have a meeting with all department heads that are [responsible] for intern training in their department, so that as management, they put them on [the same] page about what they will accept when it comes to the way that they handle interns,' said Bikitsha. 'We've also agreed to be part of the solution by training the interns on their rights when it comes to internship… from a labour perspective and also from a Health Professionals Council perspective.' Bikitsha said that the challenges and pressures facing medical interns were not unique to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. Not only were interns at the bottom of the medical hierarchy in health facilities, she explained, they also relied on their supervisors to 'sign for competency' in their logbooks, making it difficult for them to speak out against those overseeing their duties. 'The number one thing that we think is going to be a game changer is for the national Department of Health and the Treasury to get on the same page about staffing. Doctors, whether it's interns, [medical officers], registrars or consultants, are currently overseeing more than the safe working norm by the World Health Organization. Therefore, you cannot expect, in a situation like that, for quality to come out. The Department of Health and the Treasury need to come together about funding posts within the health system so that this doesn't happen,' said Bikitsha. 'Broader systemic rot' In a statement released by the trade union Public Servants Association, it was noted that Mazwi died after allegedly being pressured by his supervising consultant to work while 'critically ill'. 'His deteriorating health was visible, yet he continued to work and collapsed during his shift and tragically passed away,' stated the association. 'This devastating incident is a culmination of what the Public Servants Association has consistently warned the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health about, related to inhumane working conditions, autocratic leadership and abuse of power at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. The association has previously picketed and delivered memoranda to the head of department and the MEC for health, raising serious concerns about ill-treatment of staff.' According to the Public Servants Association, many doctors and healthcare workers across KwaZulu-Natal continue to suffer due to 'hostile, exploitative and toxic management', often working under 'impossible conditions without support'. 'Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital is emblematic of a broader systemic rot that continues unchecked,' said the association. The Public Servants Association led a picket outside the hospital on Tuesday, 20 May, at which its KZN spokesperson Mlungi Ndlovu told SABC that they were calling for an investigation into Mazwi's death by the Department of Employment and Labour, as well as the Health Ombud. 'It is the view of members that the province, in terms of the health system, has collapsed. Now is the time for change, and it is the voices of [our] members that are saying 'we are tired',' said Ndlovu. Daily Maverick reached out to the KZN Department of Health about Mazwi's death and the subsequent investigation. Its response will be added when it becomes available. In a statement released by the KZN Health Department on 14 May, it said it was 'shocked and deeply saddened' by the death of Mazwi and three other medical professionals in the province within a short period of time. The deaths were all separate incidents involving health workers from different facilities. 'It has been truly devastating to learn of the deaths of these young, talented professionals at four of our healthcare facilities. They were individuals who not only contributed immensely to our healthcare system, but also embodied the spirit of service, compassion, and leadership. Their potential to shape and mentor future generations has been cut short, and we are heartbroken by this loss. On behalf of the department, I extend heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and colleagues,' said Nomagugu Simelane, the KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC. The department said it would continue to support the affected institutions and families. According to the Health Ombud's press release, the death of a doctor at Vryheid Hospital in KZN was also referred to the ombud for investigation recently. The referral came from Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. 'The two complaints mentioned in the press release are the only ones brought to the Ombud's attention by the minister and the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, and we have not yet started [an investigation],' Mahlakanya told Daily Maverick. 'However, the Ombud will enquire with the KZN Health MEC regarding other incidents that might have been brought to her attention. All these complaints will be combined and investigated systematically.' DM
TimesLIVE
20-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Pickets outside Umlazi hospital after death of doctor ‘bullied' into working
Labour organisations are calling on the KwaZulu-Natal health department to issue a public apology and acknowledgment of systematic abuse of junior staff and structural reforms at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital after the death of a medical intern last week. Alulutho Mazwi, 25, an intern doctor at the Umlazi-based hospital who was diabetic, died while on duty last week after allegedly being made to work despite reporting he was unwell. His death and the circumstances leading up to it have raised questions regarding the treatment of junior staff, specially interns, by their superiors in the hospital. There have since been calls for accountability and systematic reforms from the public and political and labour organisations. The provincial health department said an investigation into the allegations of bullying in the lead-up to Mazwi's death is under way, and the supervising consultant who allegedly forced him to work despite his ill health has been placed on precautionary leave. Despite the measures, the Public Servants Association (PSA) led a picket outside the hospital on Tuesday to raise concerns about working conditions, infrastructure and governance at the hospital. The union, joined by the SA Federation of Trade Unions, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA and the Patriotic Alliance (PA), said the incident highlighted the "toxic" environment junior staff are subjected to at the hospital, including bullying, overwork and overall leadership failure.
The South African
16-05-2025
- Health
- The South African
Union demands answers after doctor dies on duty
The Public Servants Association of South Africa have called for heads to roll after a doctor allegedly died on duty at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi, Durban. Alulutho Mazwi was a medical intern in the hospital's Pediatrics department. Speaking to The South African, PSA spokesperson in KZN Mlungisi Ndlovu said, 'Our thoughts are very clear, doctor Alulutho Mazwi's death would have been prevented if the department had listened to us when we handed over a memorandum in August (2024) and also in February (2025). They failed to take action'. In the memorandums drawn up by PSA in August 2024 and February this year, they accused the Department of Health of human rights violations. They said at the time Prince Mshiyeni Hospital had water supply issues, lack of equipment, medication deficits and staff shortages. Ndlovu said he believed staff shortages at Mshiyeni hospital were a possible reason why Mazwi was at work on the day of his death. Speaking to The South African he said, 'We demand a full investigation on how these interns are ill-treated and other frontline workers'. A former doctor at the hospital, Sbonokuhle Khumalo, took to TikTok to sound the alarm on Dr Mazwi's case. Khumalo claimed that she served her internship at Mshiyeni hospital. She said she knew very well how toxic the pediatric department could be. According to Khumalo, Dr Mazwi was ill and had requested for time off from work. She alleges that his sick leave request was denied. In a statement, the Department of Health acknowledged claims that Mazwi was facing health challenges. Screenshots purporting to be a WhatsApp message exchange between Mazwi and his superior have since been leaked, allegedly by Mazwi's family, on social media. This message, which the South African has not yet independently verified, was allegedly written by Mazwi. It reads, 'Good morning Doc, I'm not feeling well today. Apologies for the inconvenience caused to the team.' A response to the text reads, 'I expect you to be on duty.' Mazwi's colleagues, have since shared the screenshots across various social media platforms. They allege it was a response from his supervisor. In response to the allegations, Ndlovu said, 'We demand that the supervisor involved must be placed on precautionary suspension'. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, expressed his deepest condolences to Dr Mazwi's family. He vowed that his office was investigating the matter that led to Mazwi's death. Dr Dhlomo said, 'We recognise the immense loss felt by the hospital staff, who witnessed the intern's struggle and the impact of systemic failures in our healthcare system. It is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by our medical professionals, especially those just beginning their careers. Their commitment to healing and care should never be compromised by preventable circumstances.' 'As we mourn this loss, we must also reflect on the urgent need for reform within our healthcare system. We cannot afford to lose more young lives to preventable incidents',Dhlomo continued. . He said it was crucial that the department works together to ensure that medical interns and professionals are provided with the necessary support, resources and an environment to thrive. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
