‘16 Days campaign of little comfort to Ngcobo gender-based violence victim

While SA launched its 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence on Friday, a Ngcobo woman who was allegedly attacked with a bushknife and beaten with a knobkerrie said both the health department and the police had failed her.

Though she suffered severe injuries to her face and head, Ziyanda Maqonga said neither health officials nor police had assisted her in steps that would have led to an arrest.

Khowa doctors were allegedly unable to process the required J88 police form for two weeks because the doctor who had attended to Maqonga, 30, on the night of November 13, would only be available in middecember.

Police could apparently not open a case without having the form filled in by the doctor.

Petros Majola, of the Khula Community Development Project, took Maqonga’s matter to the provincial authorities.

“It is very disappointing to hear how Ziyanda was ill-treated by healthcare professionals.

“She was advised by the SAPS to go to hospital so that a J88 could be filled in to enable the police to register a case of assault upon getting the J88,” he said. “On her arrival at Elliot hospital on November 14, she was told the doctor who had seen her the previous night was not present to fill in the J88; that [allegedly] resulted in police being unable to register the case and effect an arrest.

“It [was] alleged the doctor and nurses who treated her [would only] be available next month.

“I wish the health department could begin to realise the seriousness of GBV and femicide in our country, and stop humiliating victims,” he said.

Maqonga said she felt rejected by the government.

“Poor victims from remote areas are not taken seriously,” she said.

Health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda said the complaint was being attended to.

“Due to the fact that the patient was examined by a sessional doctor, and at the first visit did not bring the form for the doctor to fill in, the hospital has made arrangements for the J88 to be completed.

Dekeda said the department appreciated recent Health Professions

Council of SA reforms that, under certain circumstances, “a senior clinician or clinical manager may fill in the form on behalf of an absent colleague”.

She said: “Until the recent past, only the doctor who saw the patient could fill in the J88 and similar forms.”

Police spokesperson Brigtembinkosi Kinana said arrests were made on Friday and the accused would appear in court on Monday.

“There is no such policy that police cannot open a case if a complainant does not have a J88 form.

“Nobody should be sent back home or to the hospital without being assisted,” Kinana said.

He said an internal investigation regarding the J88 matter would be conducted.