Medic reported to commission
Sithole allegedly said something to the effect that “she (Wilson) must not come with her white mentality”.
The DA has lodged a complaint against Bela-Bela Hospital clinical manager, Dr Dan Sithole, with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), following alleged “racist remarks.”
DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Health, Lindy Wilson, and provincial leader, Jacques Smalle, visited the hospital on the strength of complaints by community members that patients were being turned away on a daily basis.
The situation, the DA has alleged, resulted in the death of at least one patient.
The DA further alleged that when Wilson raised concerns during a briefing with hospital management, Sithole allegedly said something to the effect that “she (Wilson) must not come with her white mentality”.
Wilson on Tuesday 10 July confirmed the SAHRC had acknowledged receipt of the party’s complaint against Dr Sithole.
Smalle retorted in a statement: “The DA finds such behaviour abhorrent and will not tolerate racist remarks hurled at one of our members of parliament, while conducting a constitutionally-mandated oversight inspection.”
“The DA will further lay a complaint at the Health Practitioners Council of South Africa against Dr Sithole for unethical behaviour. The ANC government has failed the poor and vulnerable by subjecting people to sub-standard and in certain instances no health care services,” Smalle said.
In response, Bela-Bela Hospital spokesperson, Bhuti Moagi, said the hospital had a complement of doctors which included some from Cuba.
He assured the DA delegation that no patient would leave the hospital without consultation, and that arrangements were in place to attend to patients according to their needs.
— The BEAT
