According to Mr. Phillimon Malatji, his niece – the late Faith Malatji – was one of 3 patients who were on life support machines in the ICU of this hospital when load shedding and the lack of proper planning at the hospital caused her death.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance said in a statement that while South Africa’s public healthcare system should be a model of excellence empowering South Africans to live healthy and productive lives, this is another example of a shambles. “There should be nothing less than full accountability for cases of extreme negligence, as witnessed at Letaba Hospital.”
Malatji had been admitted to the hospital because of cerebral haemorrhage and her family says she is one of three patients that died during load shedding. Yet, the provincial health department insists that there was only one death: a diabetic patient who was at the ICU.
The Malatji family further says they had to learn of the passing of Ms. Malatji through a radio broadcast. No one at the hospital cared to inform the family. Her death certificate states she died due to natural causes, but the family knows that she had a cerebral hemorrhage.
An investigation by the DA found there was an unfueled or faulty generator at this hospital. This was also confirmed publicly by Minister Aaron Motsoaledi when he visited the hospital last week.
This corroborates the version the DA obtained from an independent whistleblower who was at the hospital when these deaths occurred.
