The DA in KwaZulu-Natal vehemently condemns the conduct of security personnel – depicted in a video that went viral – who allegedly assaulted a 13-year-old disabled boy in a ward at a Ladysmith hospital.
The DA extends its sincere sympathies to the victim of this alleged attack and his family. This should never happen in a hospital environment or anywhere else in our province.
The absence of hospital staff at the scene raises serious questions about the nature of the relationship between KZN’s Department of Health, hospital management and security personnel. The management of and access to clinical space, including hospital wards, must be included in any investigation that takes place.
Regrettably, this is not an isolated case and it raises the spectre of a culture of abuse that characterises certain health institutions under this ANC-run government.
The DA calls on KZN Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane to conclude the investigation swiftly and to disclose the findings in full to the province’s Health portfolio committee.
There must be severe consequences for those responsible for this shocking act and a further drive to identify and deal with similar tendencies at other identified institutions in our province.