Psych Patients Freeze to Death

Careless: Hospital Had No Electricity

- Enkosi Selane

Poor infrastructure, inadequate equipment, and mismanagement contributed to the deaths of psychiatric patients at two Northern Cape hospitals, says a damning report by the health ombud.

The investigation found that patients literally froze to death due to electricity failures and inadequate care.

Professor Taole Mokoena, the health ombud, presented the findings on Wednesday at the Ronnie Mamoepa Press Room in Pretoria.

The probe examined cases involving two patient deaths and inadequate medical care at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital in Kimberley and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital.

The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in October 2024 against the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital. The investigation established that two patients at the mental hospital died in preventable circumstances.