Martha Marais: Patient compens

Martha Marais has been receiving trauma counselling following an incident at Mamelodi Hospital in May 2019. Image supplied

Martha Marais: Patient compensated after hospital ‘chains’ abuse

Footage of the inhumane treatment of 76-year-old Martha Marais at Mamelodi Hospital went viral in 2019.

Martha Marais: Patient compens

Martha Marais has been receiving trauma counselling following an incident at Mamelodi Hospital in May 2019. Image supplied

The Gauteng Health Department has finally closed the lid on the Martha Marais case – the elderly woman who was chained to a bench at Mamelodi Hospital while awaiting treatment in May 2019.

Footage of the incident went viral on social media, not only sparking outrage, but also shining a spotlight on the running of state hospitals and how patients were being treated. The department subsequently launched an internal investigation and several hospital staffers were suspended.

Settlement amount not disclosed

Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku, accompanied by South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Gauteng provincial manager Buang Jones, visited the family in Eersterust, Pretoria on Sunday and announced they have reached a settlement. The department, however, would not disclose the exact amount.

“Due to confidentiality requirements of the mediation, the parties to the matter will not disclose the terms of settlement. Both parties believe the settlement is comprehensive and fair enough as it includes redress and improvements of our protocols at facility level,” said Masuku.

The agreement was reached through a mediation process with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and was facilitated by retired Judge Neels Classen of the South African Medico Legal Association.

Department accepts responsibility

Masuku has apologised to the family for the hospital’s actions and taken full responsibility, adding that staffers are undergoing training.

“I take full responsibility as the MEC on behalf of my staff members. I am not going to separate the department and the staff members involved, hence the apology.”

“We are not going to be punitive, because we understand the challenges that our health workers work within, but we have entered a process which we will share with the SA Human Rights Commission and the family on the processes that we have taken in addressing all the issues of training, rehabilitation and general management of the hospital.”

Special leave, but jobs still intact

The MEC also says the hospital employees implicated in the matter – three doctors, a nurse and a security guard – have been placed on special leave but would not lose their jobs.

Family spokesperson Virginia Keppler says the 76-year-old had undergone trauma counselling and is in good spirits. 

“Ouma Martha is doing much better. We can say that she is in high spirits. She’s receiving all medical treatment now from Steve Biko Hospital and I think she is also glad that this whole situation is coming to an end.

“It wasn’t nice what she went through. She suffered a lot of trauma and she is dealing with it. She is talking less and less of the unfortunate incident and we as a family is supporting her all the way.”