Hospital power cut death outrage

PRETORIA: The family of the woman who died after a generator ran out of diesel at Letaba Hospital may decide to to sue the Limpopo Health Department.

Faith Malatjie, 40, died last Thursday after a blackout at the hospital.

Her death has incensed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who said yesterday that it was unacceptable that the generator ran out of diesel as the hospital chief executives were informed last year to ensure they had enough diesel.

Provincial health authorities have said Malatjie died of diabetes complications while being transferred from a ward to the intensive-care unit (ICU).

But her uncle, Philemon Malatjie, insisted yesterday that she was on life-support machines and died after power cuts in the ICU as a result of load shedding.

He said her nephew was admitted at Letaba Hospital this month for cerebral haemorrhage treatment.

Yesterday, Philemon told journalists in a media briefing in Polokwane that the family was seeking legal opinion over the death.

“We are intending to get a legal person. Remember we don’t have access to the notes written by the doctor and nurses,” he said, adding that the family wanted to know the truth so it could find closure.

Asked if the aim of seeking legal opinion included suing the Department of Health, Malatjie said: “If we find there was negligence on the part of the department, yes, we will definitely do that.”

On Friday, Motsoaledi visited the hospital and said on Sunday a committee would be set up to investigate the matter.

The minister said the director-general of the national Department of Health, Malebona Matsoso, had in December written to all heads of provincial departments instructing them to have enough diesel.

DA provincial chairman and MPL Langa Bodlani said the party would help the family with legal support.

Bodlani was also adamant that two patients had died when the generator ran out of diesel on Thursday.