How can an 83-year-old granny commit suicide by climbing into a bath filled with boiling water?
This is what the family of the late Mrs Mujaji Manganyi of Xikuhele village near Waterval want to know. Mrs Manganyi died in February this year after falling into a bath filled with hot water at Elim hospital. According to the family, a report was eventually released on the incident, but the conclusion seems to indicate that the granny had committed suicide. The family find this difficult to believe and intend suing the hospital for negligence.
Mrs Manganyi sustained third-degree burns after falling into the bath. She died shortly afterwards. The gogo's death caused an outcry and the provincial MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, visited the Elim Hospital shortly after the incident, promising that swift action would be taken.
The incident took place on 2 February, and after the incident it was reported that a unit manager and a junior nurse at the Elim Hospital had been suspended.
Her family now want to see justice done and claim her death was the result of gross negligence on the side of hospital staff. The family spokesperson, Mr Jabulani Manganyi, said that the family members were still in shock, following the release of the report. "How can a blind person who is in pain commit suicide?" he asked. He said that the granny's death was proof of the State's failure in its duties. "The Department of Health's failure to react to the numerous cries for help and warnings is testimony of blatant arrogance. The department has to be held responsible," he said.
"We need answers as to who killed her and why she was killed. I am saddened and in a state of shock. Due to the gross negligence of the department, the deceased suffered unnecessary pain," said Manganyi.
The Department of Health's spokesperson, Mr Thabiso Tefu, said that the two suspended nurses had been reinstated as there were no indications of foul play or negligence. Tefu said that there was no way that the department could be blamed for the death of the gogo. He did not want to comment on the threats of a lawsuit by the family.