Cape Town – The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) has expressed support for a nurse involved in a controversial viral video at the Halfway House Clinic in Midrand, alleging the footage was selectively edited.
YNITU said the incident arose after the nurse, called back from her lunch break, faced provocation and physical confrontation from a Zimbabwean patient demanding priority treatment.
The union emphasised systemic healthcare issues, including staff shortages and inadequate resources, which contribute to frustrations faced by both patients and healthcare workers.
WATCH | A Zimbabwean woman’s experience at a medical facility in Midrand, South Africa. pic.twitter.com/CQ8WPGiHGJ
— Crime Watch Zimbabwe (@crimewatchzw) January 16, 2025
“The Nurses in South Africa through their vigorous training understands that section 27 of the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to have access to health care services,” the union said in a statement .
The nurse has filed assault charges against the patient, who also faces additional charges from another individual involved in the altercation.
The SA nurse vs Zim patient conversation continues:
Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) stands firm with the NURSE in viral video shared by a Zimbabwe patient visiting halfway house clinic in Midrand.
YNITU Media Statement
18 January 2025
The Nurses in South Africa… pic.twitter.com/G3quw9O1qx— Lerato Pillay 🇿🇦💎🇿🇦 (@nyebe_official) January 18, 2025
According to YNITU, the incident began when a nurse, called back from lunch to assist additional patients, encountered a Zimbabwean patient described as a regular clinic user with a history of targeting her.
The patient demanded priority treatment and a referral, disrupting an ongoing consultation.
The confrontation allegedly turned physical, with the patient preventing the nurse from leaving to seek help.
The widely shared viral video, however, only shows the aftermath of the incident when the nurse was speaking to her line manager.
YNITU called for improved security measures and management responsiveness in clinics, highlighting the strain on frontline nurses caused by overwork and under-resourcing in South Africa’s healthcare system.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
