COVID-19 PATIENT ALLEGEDLY DENIED FOOD AT TEMBISA HOSPITAL

Shonisani Lethole was tested for COVID-19 before he was admitted to the Tembisa Hospital. Sadly, he died before receiving his results on Monday, 30th of June 2020.

Shonisani was admitted with breathing complications. His family claims that two days after his admission, he asked food at the hospital but was not given any.

The 35 year old from Kempton Park lost his life on Monday. He even sent a tweet to the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize while he was at the hospital “mkhize can I respond to your tweets if the problems I have at one of your facilities continues it’s becoming unbearable and they don’t seem to care. Didn’t eat for 48 hours.” [sic]

The Lethole family now wants answers from the Health Ministry. The family is devastated after their son died at the notorious Tembisa Hospital while awaiting COVID-19 results. The family claims that after being denied food, his request for a wheelchair to move to the bathroom was also apparently ignored.

The Health Department says it will meet with the family before releasing the report into the matter.

The hospital is one of the three state hospitals that are treating Covid-19 patients in Gauteng. They’re fears that the current situation will deteriorate in the coming weeks.

At the time of publishing, they were 45 944 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa with 244 recorded deaths.

UPDATE: A team from the Office of the MEC of Health, Dr Bandile Masuku visited Lethole’s family today, 2 July 2020, to reassure them that all is being done to get to the bottom of the incident surrounding his death.

The Gauteng Department has instituted an investigation into the matter in order to ascertain the facts surrounding Lethole’s death.

The team relayed messages of condolences to the family. The Department gave an assurance that nothing will be swept under the carpet. We have not shied away from taking responsibility where we are at fault as a department, and this case will not be any different.