KEY POINTS
- Three Tonga Hospital nurses face disciplinary action after a diabetic patient alleged mistreatment, including being left naked on the floor.
- A viral video and witness testimony supported the claims, prompting an investigation by the Mpumalanga Health Department.
- The case highlights systemic challenges in public healthcare, including staff shortages and patient dignity concerns.
Three nurses at Tonga Hospital in Mpumalanga are set to face disciplinary action following allegations of patient mistreatment after a video surfaced showing a naked elderly woman left stranded on the floor of her ward.
The incident at Tonga Hospital, which occurred on March 21, 2025, has sparked outrage after the footage circulated on social media, prompting an investigation by the Mpumalanga Department of Health.
Hospital’s response and investigation
In a statement, Dumisani Malamule, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Health, confirmed:
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the patient had soiled herself while attempting to reach the bathroom. Nurses claim they sought assistance from porters due to her body weight, but the patient disputes their version.”
TheCitizen reports that another patient in the same ward at Tonga hospital corroborated the woman’s account, stating they witnessed the harsh treatment.
The department has summoned the three nurses involved to provide statements, and disciplinary proceedings are underway. “The nurses will be subjected to a formal hearing to determine the appropriate course of action,” Malamule added.
As the investigation unfolds, this case serves as a wake-up call for improved patient care protocols and better support for healthcare workers to prevent future incidents.
The disciplinary process comes at a time when South Africa’s public health sector faces increased scrutiny following several high-profile cases of alleged patient neglect.
Healthcare experts point to the need for better staff-patient ratios, improved training in patient handling techniques, and more robust support systems for both medical staff and vulnerable patients.
As the investigation continues, provincial health officials have pledged to implement additional oversight measures at Tonga Hospital to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the patient’s family has expressed relief that their complaints from Tonga hospital are being taken seriously but remains concerned about broader systemic issues. “This shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” the daughter said. “We just want to make sure no one else’s parent has to go through this kind of humiliation when they’re at their most vulnerable.”
The outcome of the disciplinary hearing could set an important precedent for how similar cases are handled in South Africa’s overburdened public health system.
