MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: THURSDAY, 07 AUGUST 2025
SUBJECT: DENOSA DEMANDING JUSTICE, FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY IN THE NORTHERN CAPE MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL AND ROBERT MANGALISO SOBUKWE HOSPITAL INCIDENTS AND IMPROVED STATE OF HEALTH IN THE NORTHERN CAPE.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) notes the Office of Health Ombudsman’s Report on Investigations at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital (NCMHH) and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH).
It is noted that the Investigation relates to the Treatment, Complications and Deaths of psychiatric patients at these health establishments.
The DENOSA noted the findings and recommendations of the Office of the Ombudsman in this regard.
It is critically noted that the report is succinct that the departmental systemic failures and instability of provincial leadership attributed and predisposed these institutions to the unfortunate demise of two patients including the numerous findings made during investigations as articulated within the report.
We further noted that, the report equally found both clinicians and the department provincial leadership to be equally accountable for the deaths of patients.
It is however alarmingly dismaying and worth noting that the recommendations pertaining corrective disciplinary action is skewed and unilaterally pointing to clinicians I.e. Nurses and Doctors.
DENOSA have also witnessed the media briefing and media statements issued by the Northern Cape Department of Health whereby a similar posture is displayed that seeks to exonerate the department provincial leadership from accountability and responsibility.
DENOSA is advocating the interest of justice, fairness and consistency in implementing corrective disciplinary action and henceforth make an unequivocal clarion call to the Honourable Premier, Dr. Z. Saul to lead these
investigations by equally subjecting the Northern Cape Department of Health provincial leadership which includes but not limited to both the MEC, Mr. M. Lekwene and various Acting HOD’s that occupied this portfolio during the periods under review; to be subjected to same/similar investigations and appropriate remedial actions.
DENOSA, advocating on behalf of its members who were perpetually subjected to these department provincial leadership and system failures shall not condone its members to become victims or scapegoats of patronage.
As Denosa we advocate for:
· Adequate staffing and skill mix for effective patient care
· Investment in the right resources and equipment
· Provision safe and decent working conditions
· Support for education, professional development and optimal scope of practice
· Investing in the mental health and well-being of nurses
The leadership of DENOSA has on numerous occasions, has raised these challenges that are confronting the health system in the Northern Cape to the provincial leadership. DENOSA has raised the following as the major cause to the deteriorating health care system in the Northern Cape:
· We have long made a diagnosis of the multi-organ system failure, and the minister has confirmed that in the media briefing on the 30th July 2025. The entire Chief Directors’, including some Directors are acting for more than 24 months now. Even though the organisational structure was approved in January 2024. This remains a major cause of health system challenges.
· Centralised financial delegation to the office of the HOD.
· Severe shortage of staff orchestrated by an appalling recruitment process that takes more than year to conclude. This recruitment processes are always outside the framework of the recruitment policy in the department of health. Even the replacement posts remain vacant until there is no more funding and eventually losing the post. The staffing inefficiencies started in 2016/2017 when department of health abolished approximately 1000 clinical posts. Today we suffer the effects of this irrational decisions.
· Despite the growing crisis the Northern Cape Department of Health is relying on short-term reactive strategies to address nursing workforce challenges.
· Poor production of nurses from the college because of lack of support by the provincial department of health. We have called for college to be an autonomous entity like any other college in the country.
· Continuous inefficiency in the emergency medical response services.
· The Northern Cape Province has +- 2800 nurses for a population of 1.37 million, this translate to a ratio of 1:489. The international ratio is 1: 4.
· Nurses continue to be undervalued despite their critical role in health care. This is evident when the Minister of Health announced 200 post for nurses for 9 provinces. The Northern Cape needs an additional 3000 nurses to ensure a safe nurse staffing system.
· Nurses face an escalating treat to their safety due to a non-conducive working environments
Whilst regretting these unfortunate incidents the DENOSA will leave no stone unturned to ensure accountability and responsibility is unbiased and that there shall be no holy cows.
We sincerely trust that the Honourable Premier, Dr. Z. Saul will do the honourable thing as requested by the DENOSA in this media statement.
END
For more information please contact:
Eugene Gilbert Sak
072 472 9132
Provincial Chairperson
DENOSA Northern Cape
Dimpho Disipi
072 569 9838
Provincial Secretary
DENOSA Northern Cape
