Serious allegations of medical negligence and malpractice are mounting against Witbank General Hospital in eMalahleni, with several patients, primarily women, coming forward with stories of botched operations that have left them with severe, lifelong complications.
The claims, many related to childbirth and non-standardized surgical procedures, paint a picture of a healthcare facility where errors have devastating consequences. Patients also report a pattern of missing medical files, obstructing their ability to seek follow-up care and justice.
One of the most severe cases is that of Thabile Choma, a 31-year-old mother of two. In November 2023, she went to the hospital for a check-up due to elevated blood pressure. A doctor performed an emergency cesarean section.
“The doctors said when they closed the operation, they damaged my intestine and stitched it to the skin. Then they released me with a septic wound,” Choma stated. She was forced to seek help at a private hospital, but claims they could only treat the exterior of the wound, leaving the internal damage unresolved.
The incident has left her unable to work, reliant on a special diet she cannot afford, and living in constant pain. “I don’t have self-esteem. Sometimes I have suicidal thoughts… I only live for my children,” she said, adding that she has decided to sue the hospital.
Another woman, Busisiwe Hlophe, who underwent a C-section at the same hospital in 2014, claims her womb and kidney were damaged. She now suffers from chronic pain and mobility issues. “I can’t stand too long. I can’t walk. I urinate now and then,” she explained. She has also lost trust in the hospital, alleging, “the doctor they don’t want to tell you the truth… There’s no truth at the hospital.” She confirmed that her medical file from 2016 has been lost.
A third patient, Nomsa Mashiane, alleges she has been forced to undergo multiple surgeries due to staff negligence. After samples were taken from her breast, she was told her results were missing, necessitating another painful procedure. “I can’t sleep due to the pain. They only gave me pain blocks,” she said. With a family history of cancer, she fears the unknown mass could spread while she waits for answers.
These individual tragedies occur against a backdrop of massive potential liability for the provincial health department. A spokesperson for the department confirmed it is facing medical legal claims amounting to billions of rands.
“Might be claims to a value of around 7.3 billion,” the spokesperson said, clarifying that this figure represents potential claims, not money that has already been paid out.
The department encouraged patients to report problems immediately. “We encourage that if you’ve got a problem in any of our facilities… report it there and then so that you don’t come two years later and it becomes a claim because our interest is to make sure that you live a healthy life and we assist you as and when there are challenges.”
The spokesperson was adamant that all malpractice cases are being investigated. “Medical staff found to have transgressed will face repercussions,” the spokesperson assured.
However, for patients like Thabile Choma and the others, who live with daily pain and vanished medical records, these assurances offer little comfort as they grapple with the lifelong consequences of their treatment at Witbank General Hospital.
