Investigation launched into working conditions at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital following intern's death

A medical manager at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in uMlazi has been placed on precautionary suspension following the death of a young intern doctor.

Dr Alulutho Mazwi, 25, an intern doctor at the Umlazi hospital who suffered from diabetes, died on Monday night at the facility after allegedly being made to work despite reporting he was unwell.

Ntokozo Maphisa, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Health Department said senior managers from department visited the hospital to conduct an independent investigation into the matter following serious allegations regarding employer-employee relations.

"The medical manager concerned is on precautionary suspension. The department went to establish what had happened. We are investigating all the allegations raised," said Maphisa.

Among the allegations was that Mazwi was allegedly forced to work despite reporting to his supervisor that he was unwell.

Following reports of Mazwi's death, questions were raised regarding the treatment of junior staff, especially interns, by their superiors in the hospital.

The Public Servants Association (PSA) claims Mazwi's deteriorating health was visible, yet he continued to work and collapsed during his shift and tragically passed away.

"This devastating incident is a culmination of what the PSA has consistently warned the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health about related to inhumane working conditions, autocratic leadership, and abuse of power at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital.

"The PSA previously picketed and delivered memoranda to the Head of Department and the MEC for Health, raising serious concerns about ill-treatment of staff. To date, no meaningful investigation or intervention has been conducted," said the PSA in a statement.

The PSA said this was not an isolated case, but that many doctors and healthcare workers across KwaZulu-Natal continue to suffer under hostile, exploitative, and toxic management, often working under impossible conditions without support.

The PSA has called for a public report to be released, detailing accountability and consequences for those involved.

The Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union (HAITU) said the department of health have Mazwi's blood on their hands for failing to ensure adequate staffing of health care facilities.

"As HAITU, we believe that the root cause which led to the untimely demise of Dr Mazwi is deeper and definitely more than just bullying by his immediate line manager.

"It is a common occurrence for managers to deny leave or even recall staff of various kinds off their leave to patch the shortage of staff in the health facilities. HAITU has received numerous grievances as a union related to gross violations in this basic right of workers," said HAITU in a statement.

 Mazwi's uncle Vumani Mazwi, told IOL that the family was devastated, adding that Alulutho was young and his career had just started.

He said his nephew did inform them that he was not feeling well due to his medical condition.

"But what we noticed more as a family is that he missed a lot of family functions due to his working conditions. They did not permit him to attend the family functions. Last year we had a string of funerals of people who were close to him, and he didn't attend even a single funeral," he said.

National Minister of Health Aaron Moatsoaledi has called for the health ombud to investigate Mazwi's death.

Moatsoaledi's spokesperson Sello Lediga said while the minister had not received any official report from the province, he contacted the MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Nomagugu Simelane.

“The Minister believes that considering the severity of this matter, a senior professional with relevant academic and professional experience in this area will be appropriate to investigate this matter urgently.

“In his opinion, the Health Ombud fits the mould of such a medical professional, himself having been a medical intern, medical registrar, medical consultant and a professor who headed a department, therefore has a deep understanding of how the system works,” he said.

The Health Ombud is an independent body established in terms of the National Health Amendment Act of 2013, with responsibility to protect and promote the health and safety of users of health services by considering, investigating, and disposing of complaints in the national health system relating to non-compliance with prescribed norms and standards.

Health ombud, Professor Taole Resetselemang Mokoena, who was appointed in 2023, previously chaired a panel for the investigation of surgical deaths at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 1996/7 and the panel of inquiry into discrimination within the Cardiology Department at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Mokoena, according to the health ministry, has the authority to issue subpoenas to obtain any necessary information.

“Minister Motsoaledi extends his heartfelt condolences to Dr Mazwi's family and colleagues and hopes that the investigation will help get to the bottom of this matter.”

The provincial health department expressed their shock regarding the deaths of four medical professionals in separate incidents at four different facilities.

Dr Siyabonga Zulu, a medical officer in the Department of Anaesthesia at Ngwelezane Hospital, died in a car accident last week Sunday morning.

On Tuesday Mvelo Cele, a radiographer at Port Shepstone Hospital, collapsed while on duty.

Last month, Dr Tumelo Ggaldi, who worked at Addington Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology, died at his Clare Estate home after booking off sick.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE