KZN Health MEC condemns alleged assault of Empangeni Clinic staffer, allegedly by psych patient

16 August 2024

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Ms Nomagugu Simelane has condemned the alleged assault of a nurse at Empangeni Clinic, allegedly by a female mental healthcare user (psychiatric patient), following an altercation earlier today.

It is alleged that a nurse had an argument with the healthcare user in the corridors of the clinic, in which some heated words were exchanged.

The nurse was reportedly called by the clinic's operations manager into her office, so that she could be advised on the most prudent approach to deal with the situation.

However, while the meeting was still ongoing, another commotion was heard outside, which was when the patient was allegedly assaulting another nurse, who is employed by an NGO that is contracted by the hospital.

Security officers attended to the scene, and reportedly restrained the patient. The matter was reported to the SAPS, whose officers later arrived. Officials from the clinic's mother hospital - Ngwelezane Hospital - attended to the scene.

The nurse was duly counselled by officials from the Employee Assistance Programme.

The mental healthcare user is believed to have defaulted from her chronic medication. She was not arrested, but was taken home by her partner.

Further engagements between Departmental officials and various affected parties are expected to continue on Monday.

The incident comes shortly after MEC Simelane tabled her 2024/25 Budget Speech, in which she made it clear that all forms of violence, poor attitude, and misconduct within the premises of healthcare facilities - whether by staff or patients - would not be tolerated.

Reacting to the incident earlier today, MEC Simelane said: "Two days ago, I stood before the people of this province and declared that violence in our healthcare facilities will not be tolerated. Today, I am concerned that a nurse has been assaulted, allegedly by a patient. Obviously, this case is extra-ordinary, as it involves a mental healthcare user, whose behaviour may not always be predictable. But it is still unacceptable. While the incident is being investigated, I want to re-emphasise that the safety of our healthcare workers and healthcare users remains paramount. We will be following developments in this matter with keen interest."

ENDS Issued by the Ministry of Health in KwaZulu-Natal