A joint investigation into the deaths of six KwaZulu-Natal healthcare professionals has found no direct link with victimisation, workplace bullying or adverse working conditions, according to Health Ombud Professor Taole Mokoena, who warned, however, that serious systemic challenges continue to affect healthcare workers across the province.
IOL reports that the investigation, conducted with the assistance of the Public Service Commission, came after complaints lodged by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and former chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, amid public concern and extensive media reports surrounding the deaths.
The probe had sought to establish whether workplace conditions, human resource practices or broader systemic challenges were linked to the deaths, and while the findings showed otherwise, Mokoena said this did not mean the public health system was without serious challenges.
On the contrary, the investigation had uncovered significant systemic concerns affecting personnel across multiple health establishments, including persistent staffing shortages, frozen vacant posts, excessive workloads, shortages of medical equipment and supplies, infrastructure challenges, inadequate employee wellness support and security concerns affecting staff.
He said the issues required urgent attention.
The deaths involved medics at various hospitals: Addington, Port Shepstone, Ngwelezane, Vryheid, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial, and Benedictine Hospital, with investigators reviewing hospital records, HR practices, employee wellness programmes and disciplinary records, and interviewing hospital management, healthcare professionals, interns, labour representatives and support staff.
On the death of Dr Tumelo Kgaladi, a 31-year-old Addington Hospital doctor who died at his residence while off duty, Mokoena said the investigation found no causal link between his death and his working conditions.
Circumstantial evidence suggested possible carbon monoxide poisoning, but the final determination of the cause of death remained subject to a forensic South African Police Service inquiry and inquest process.
Kgaladi had a history of mental health problems that had not been disclosed to the hospital, he added.
The investigation also found no link between the death of radiographer Mvelo Cele at Port Shepstone Hospital – who died from cardiac arrest while on duty – and workplace conditions, although Mokoena noted that the facility faced staffing challenges, including the loss of specialists and difficulties filling posts because of budget constraints.
In the case of Dr Siyabonga Zulu of Ngwelezane Hospital, who died in a car accident while off duty, there was no evidence linking his death to work or systemic issues at the hospital.
He said the investigation did, however, identify challenges including staff shortages, security concerns and inadequate employee wellness capacity.
In the case of Dr Francis Idika of Vryheid Hospital, where claims had suggested workplace bullying, victimisation and disciplinary action contributed to his death, Moekena said the investigation did not support those allegations: Idika had died from natural causes after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm.
However, the investigation identified governance failures in the handling of complaints, disciplinary matters and workplace conflicts at the hospital.
And on the death of intern Dr Alulutho Mazwi at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, Mokoena said claims circulating on social media that he had been instructed to report for duty despite being ill were fabricated.
“He became critically ill one night while at the doctors’ residence and was taken to the hospital medical emergency room, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”
The most likely cause of death was pulmonary embolism from deep vein thrombosis.
The investigation had, however, found concerns around support systems available to interns and identified a culture among some junior doctors of fearing to take sick leave because of concerns about extending internship rotations or increasing workloads for colleagues.
On the death of Dr SI Ngidi, a community service doctor at Benedictine Hospital, the investigation confirmed he had committed suicide by ingesting rat poison while off duty.
Mokoena said it had also been established that Ngidi was not directly involved in the fraudulent birth registration matter that had implicated his name. He said weaknesses were identified in document control processes at the hospital, including pre-signed blank birth registration forms, and the matter had been referred to law enforcement authorities.
Healthcare professionals consistently raised concerns about burnout, increased workloads, limited mental health support, workplace safety concerns and infrastructure challenges, added Mokoena, and many employee wellness programmes were under-resourced and unable to adequately meet staff’s needs.
“The system cannot effectively care for patients if it fails to adequately support those who provide the healthcare.”
The Ombud highlighted concerns that CEOs at some hospitals were not medically trained, which created a conflict of authority within those establishments.
“The release of this report – and of many others before it – does not mark the end of the process, but rather, it forms part of a continuum in a journey to build and maintain a safe, responsive, quality healthcare service delivery in this country,” he said.
The findings and recommendations would be referred to the Office of Health Standards Compliance for monitoring and implementation.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Health Ombud reports on probe into KZN doctors’ deaths
Intern doctor’s death sparks outcry over public health working conditions
Doctors take strain from staff shortages