Medical intern’s death sparks official probe
MSN
Following the tragic death of Dr. Alulutho Mazwi at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in uMlazi, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has called on the health ombud to step in and investigate.
The investigation call comes in response to outcries from healthcare unions and officials, amid allegations that Mazwi was made to remain on duty despite feeling unwell.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, ministry spokesperson Sello Lediga disclosed that while the minister had not yet received a formal report from the province, he proactively engaged KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane to discuss the unfolding matter.
He explained that, in his view, the Health Ombud is the ideal example of a medical professional well-versed in the system — having served as a medical intern, registrar, consultant, and even as a department head and professor. This extensive experience, he added, equips the Ombud with an intimate understanding of how the healthcare system truly operates.
Created under the National Health Amendment Act of 2013, the Health Ombud operates as an independent authority dedicated to safeguarding the rights, health, and safety of those who rely on the country’s healthcare services. Its core mission is to receive, investigate, and resolve complaints concerning any breaches of the established norms and standards within the national health system.
Appointed in 2023, Health Ombud Professor Taole Resetselemang Mokoena brings a wealth of investigative experience to the role. In the late 1990s, he led a panel probing surgical deaths at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and later headed an inquiry into allegations of discrimination within the hospital’s Cardiology Department.
The Ministry confirms that Professor Taole Resetselemang Mokoena, Health Ombud, is vested with the authority to issue subpoenas to obtain any information necessary to conduct thorough investigations.
Minister Motsoaledi extends his deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Dr. Mazwi and expresses his earnest hope that the ongoing investigation will comprehensively uncover the facts surrounding this matter.
Emerging reports indicate that the 25-year-old had recently been diagnosed with diabetes, raising serious concerns about his health status at the time. Dr. Imraan Keeka, the DA’s KwaZulu-Natal health spokesperson, alleges that despite clear signs of severe illness, Mazwi was reportedly burdened with excessive duties by a senior doctor.
In response, the South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) has called attention to this incident as a stark example of the systemic failures within the healthcare system—highlighting the urgent need to address the grueling and often exploitative conditions under which junior doctors, especially interns, are forced to operate under supervisory pressure.
On Friday, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health announced that a hospital supervisor has been temporarily suspended pending further investigation.
MEC Simelane called on the hospital’s interns to speak out openly about any concerns, especially if they’ve experienced bullying or mistreatment, emphasizing the importance of addressing such issues promptly.
The MEC expressed heartfelt sympathy to the loved ones and colleagues of the healthcare professionals, acknowledging their loss with deep compassion.
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