A MQANDULI man has accused the Eastern Cape health system of failing his family after his uncle died in his arms just moments after being discharged from a Mthatha hospital.
Mandisi Sineke, 56, died a few metres from the gates of Mthatha General Hospital after being treated for stab wounds over the Easter weekend.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo heard about the incident from the Daily Dispatch, but said the allegations were serious.
He urged the family to complain to the health department.
Sineke was hacked by a panga- wielding attacker at a tavern in Upper Ngqwarha village on March29.
When his nephew, Fikile Bonga, took him to hospital they were told no doctors were available and they should return the following day.
He said when they returned the next day the doctor who treated his uncle didn’t even bother to bandage the wounds, and just gave his uncle two pills to swallow.
Sineke was later discharged.
“Since he had lost a lot of blood he was tired and dizzy,” said Bonga.
“We just kept giving him water .”
Bonga said they started to walk towards the gate but his uncle was struggling so he carried him on his back. “As we were approaching the gate, I could feel he was giving up and he said I must put him down.
“I did, and that was when he gave up. He died in my arms.”
Kupelo said the family should write a formal complaint to the department so an investigation could be launched.
“If this is true, it is really serious. They must also approach the Health Professions Council of South Africa,” he said.
Regarding the allegations that no doctors were initially available, Kupelo said the department had money set aside for overtime and doctors only needed to draw up a roster for shifts.
“We always have doctors on call but some switch off their phones. That is a serious concern .”
Mqanduli police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana confirmed an argument and assault had taken place at the tavern leading to the death of Sineke.
“A case of murder was opened and we arrested a 16-year-old boy.
“He was later released on R1000 bail into the custody of his parents,” said Jozana.
Despite the arrest Bonga was bitter about the way they had been treated at the hospital.
“These people don’t know the basic principles of being a human being. We got there and waited from 7pm but we didn’t get any help – we were only told there is no doctor. How do you get to a hospital dirty and bloody and looking like that because there are no doctors?”
Bonga said they had been treated in such a manner because “we are not that educated and we won’t know what to do”.
“The money from the department of health is going down the drain.
“You know, a man’s life depends on the services of a hospital but this is what happened to us.” —
Uncle dies at hospital threshold
Mandisi Sineke, 56, died a few metres from the gates of Mthatha General Hospital after being treated for stab wounds over the Easter weekend.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo heard about the incident from the Daily Dispatch, but said the allegations were serious.
He urged the family to complain to the health department.
Sineke was hacked by a panga- wielding attacker at a tavern in Upper Ngqwarha village on March29.
When his nephew, Fikile Bonga, took him to hospital they were told no doctors were available and they should return the following day.
He said when they returned the next day the doctor who treated his uncle didn’t even bother to bandage the wounds, and just gave his uncle two pills to swallow.
Sineke was later discharged.
“Since he had lost a lot of blood he was tired and dizzy,” said Bonga.
“We just kept giving him water .”
Bonga said they started to walk towards the gate but his uncle was struggling so he carried him on his back. “As we were approaching the gate, I could feel he was giving up and he said I must put him down.
“I did, and that was when he gave up. He died in my arms.”
Kupelo said the family should write a formal complaint to the department so an investigation could be launched.
“If this is true, it is really serious. They must also approach the Health Professions Council of South Africa,” he said.
Regarding the allegations that no doctors were initially available, Kupelo said the department had money set aside for overtime and doctors only needed to draw up a roster for shifts.
“We always have doctors on call but some switch off their phones. That is a serious concern .”
Mqanduli police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana confirmed an argument and assault had taken place at the tavern leading to the death of Sineke.
“A case of murder was opened and we arrested a 16-year-old boy.
“He was later released on R1000 bail into the custody of his parents,” said Jozana.
Despite the arrest Bonga was bitter about the way they had been treated at the hospital.
“These people don’t know the basic principles of being a human being. We got there and waited from 7pm but we didn’t get any help – we were only told there is no doctor. How do you get to a hospital dirty and bloody and looking like that because there are no doctors?”
Bonga said they had been treated in such a manner because “we are not that educated and we won’t know what to do”.
“The money from the department of health is going down the drain.
“You know, a man’s life depends on the services of a hospital but this is what happened to us.” —
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