25 June 2021

KWAZULU-Natal Health MEC Ms Nomagugu Simelane has welcomed the immediate suspension of two private security guards who were caught on video assaulting a patient, at Estcourt Hospital.

The MEC has strongly condemned the incident, and also expressed her disquiet that the video appears to have been filmed by a hospital staff member, who failed to intervene during the assault - or report the matter to hospital management until it was brought to her attention by a journalist.

"It is extremely concerning that, instead of making management aware, they decided to send out the video."

"If they had followed processes, you'll find that the patient might not have been assaulted as severely as they were. We hear that it might have been one of our health workers who took this video. If it is, then it is very unfortunate."

"We are investigating the matter, and we have instructed management to investigate and deal with it decisively."

"While they are investigating, we've also said the private company that is responsible for the security personnel who were assaulting the patient must suspend those people with immediate effect. We will then get a proper report tomorrow on what been done."

ENDS Issued by the KZN Department of Health