Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga is urging the Health Professions Council to investigate nurses accused of mistreating a patient at Tonga Hospital in Nkomazi.
This follows a video showing a nurse assaulting a naked patient, Lydia Makhoba, who was admitted for diabetic foot and hypertension.
Makhoba died on Thursday, three weeks after her admission, reports said.
TONGA HOSPITAL INCIDENT | A disturbing video circulating on social media shows a naked patient sitting on the floor, unable to get up. Lola Funzama, the patient’s daughter, alleges her mother, Lydia Makhoba, was mistreated and assaulted by a nurse when she fell off her… pic.twitter.com/0VwSSfDtQu
— Mpumalanga Mirror (@MPMirror) March 24, 2025
Talking to Mpumalanga Mirror, Makhoba’s daughter said that her mother was mistreated and assaulted by a nurse when she fell off her hospital bed.
According to SABC News, DA Member of the Provincial Legislature, Bosman Grobler, is calling for both an investigation into the nurses’ actions and for the Provincial Department of Health to enforce stricter disciplinary measures to prevent further medical negligence.
“The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga calls on the Health Professionals Council of South Africa to intervene and investigate the Mpumalanga nurses who went viral recently for assaulting and mistreating a naked patient at the Tonga Hospital,” the report Grobler as saying.
“A disturbing video of a nurse was circulated on social media platforms recently where she’s seen assaulting and mistreating Lydia Makoba, a patient at the Tonga Hospital, while she was naked on the floor. The DA also wants the Provincial Department of Health to introduce strict disciplinary measures for the health care professionals who continuously expose the department to billions of rants and medical negligence claims.”
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