Warning: This article contains mention of an alleged sexual assault.
The State Public Protector (SPP) is conducting an investigation into the Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital, as well as the Western Cape health department’s administration. This was confirmed to MatieMedia by Oupa Segalwe, spokesperson of the SPP of South Africa.
The investigation follows the alleged rape of a 15-year-old patient at a Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital in September.
In the aftermath of the alleged rape of a 15-year-old at a Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital, protesters delivered a memorandum with a list of demands as to how the situation should be handled on 1 October. One of the demands in the memorandum was that the alleged victim be transferred to a different local facility, at the Western Cape health department’s expense, according to Bianca Boysen, representative of the family. PHOTO: Bianca Boysen
“Our investigation relates to the conditions at the hospital that might have contributed to the incident, and whether or not there was any improper conduct or maladministration on the part of the hospital or the Western Cape department of health,” said Segalwe.
Captain Nathalie Martin, communications officer at Stellenbosch South African Police Service (SAPS), earlier confirmed to MatieMedia that SAPS had completed their investigation into the case, and that the docket was sent to the SPP on 19 October.
Following an alleged incident in which a minor was sexually assaulted at Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital, both the mother of the victim and Bianca Booysen, the representative of the victim’s family, claimed that the manager of Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital was disrespectful to them both following the incident. PHOTO: Alistair Seymour.
Disparity in dates
Meanwhile, however, there appears to be conflicting information in terms of when the alleged sexual assault happened.
“This office confirms that a Sexual Assault case was reported on 29 September 2021 by the victim’s mother, but the incident happened on the 16 September 2021 at Stellenbosch Hospital,” Martin told MatieMedia.
However, according to Maritz, the alleged sexual assault took place on 23 September.
“The parents of the female patient indicated that they accept as the correct date of admission [to the hospital] (18 September) and the date of the incident as reported by the hospital (23 September),” said Maritz in email correspondence with MatieMedia.
Meanwhile, the mother of the victim claimed that she took her daughter to the hospital for psychiatric treatment on 11 September.
“Even the date, my birthday, was the 13th [of September] – that’s the Monday, my birthday. [On] the 11th, on that Saturday, I took her in. I don’t know where she spent those seven days, because [the hospital] say the 18th [is when she was admitted],” claimed the mother of the victim.
A 15-year-old was allegedly sexually assaulted at Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital on 16 September. In a memorandum that was delivered to the hospital by protesters on 1 October, the family demanded that disciplinary action be taken against certain hospital staff members, according to Booysen. PHOTO: Alistair Seymour.
Reviews and investigations
In a memorandum that was delivered to the hospital by protesters on 1 October, the family demanded that disciplinary action be taken against certain hospital staff members for negligence in the matter, according to Bianca Booysen, a representative of the family of the victim.
“[The hospital manager] signed for it, and that memorandum is now in the public space and they need to be held accountable to it,” said Booysen. Everything that was stated in the memorandum was discussed with the mother of the victim, according to Booysen.
In line with the memorandum’s demands, an internal review of two of the hospital’s staff members took place after 23 September, which is the date on which the hospital claims the incident took place, said Maritz. Thereafter, disciplinary action was taken against the two staff members, she added.
“The [Western Cape Health] department remains in touch with the family and keeps supporting the SAPS investigation and Public Protector inquiry,” she added.
The patient who allegedly committed the sexual assault was discharged shortly after the incident, according to Maritz.