Teachers demand compensation from hotel
TWO Durban teachers who were injured while attending a workshop at the Garden Court Marine Parade Hotel are taking the establishment to task for unpaid medical bills and are demanding compensation for pain, suffering and embarrassment.
Ngakanani Khanyile and Beena Boodhoo were part of a group of about 30 Grade 12 teachers who were invited to the Just In Time life sciences workshop organised by the KZN department of education in 2016. The workshop was held at the weekend, and the incident happened on the Sunday they were due to check out.
Khanyile has demanded R250 000 from the hotel while Boodhoo is seeking compensation of over R500 000.
The incident happened while the pair were seated in a meeting room listening to a facilitator when a metal-framed glass door fell off its hinges, injuring the two teachers. Khanyile said the door hit the table she was seated on, splashing water into her bag containing valuables.
“It hit my right knee, affecting my hip,” she said. “It took some time for me to process what had happened, and when I did, I cried in front of my colleagues, which, looking back, embarrassed me. Paramedics were called, but once in the ambulance, we could not be taken to hospital due to confusion about who would pay for medical expenses.”
The teachers said they were eventually taken to hospital when the hotel agreed to pay but could not be immediately attended to due to confusion over payment.
Khanyile said she had no option but to use her medical aid. However, X-rays were not covered by her medical scheme. She said she still could not walk properly as a result of the injury and lives on pain medication.
“The entire incident inconvenienced me greatly, and what's worse is
that the joints still act up, and I cannot get medical help for it because of the high costs of treatment,” she said. “For a long time after the incident, driving was excruciating, and I had no other option in getting to work.”
Boodhoo said she was knocked unconscious when the falling door struck her head, and strained her neck. Although she had been experiencing
neck pain from cervical degenerative discs, the incident aggravated her pain, and she had to have surgery in October. She claimed that the hotel management was dragging its feet in getting the matter resolved.
“They told me that I could not communicate with them and that I needed an attorney. I think they thought we would not have the funds to engage an attorney,” she said.
“Three weeks ago, they sent me a quantum survey where they highlighted all the serious cases and how much they pay out. I have spent about R100 000 on medical bills, but they want me to settle for R40000. They have to pay my medical aid bills in total, and what about my future bills. Who will pay for that?” she asked.
Boodhoo said she spent money on medical reports required by the hotel group and, as an experienced marker in the national senior examinations,
she lost income due to her injuries.
“It was also their duty to have a doctor medically assess my injuries, but they wanted me to provide a medical report which cost thousands of rand,” she said.
“I want the money to cover medical bills plus the pain and suffering. What about the embarrassment? I was with my colleagues. I was even ashamed to get up after getting injured with everyone looking at me.”
Neo Mboniswa, communications manager at Tsogo Sun Hotels, said the matter was being handled by their lawyers.
“Tsogo Sun Hotels confirms that upon receiving legal correspondence from the guests’ attorneys, the matter was handed over to the hotel’s liability insurer. Our attorneys have been in contact with the guests’ attorneys. This is currently a legal matter. Therefore, all information is