Family Demands Justice with R40m Lawsuit Against Mpumalanga Health Department After Patient Death

In a tragic turn of events that has sparked public outrage and a major legal battle, the family of Lazarus Mathabele, 57, is suing the Mpumalanga Department of Health for a staggering R40 million. This lawsuit comes after Mathabele was discovered lifeless only meters from Matikwana Hospital’s entrance—a facility where he was supposed to be under careful medical observation.

The somber incident occurred on the morning of July 24 when early-rising community members stumbled upon the unsettling sight of Mathabele’s body laid out on the street, half-clothed and with his cellphone beside him. His death has led to painful anguish for a household that has lost not just a family member but a provider as well.

Grace Mathabele, the daughter of the deceased, has been vocal about the perceived injustices that led to this fateful incident. With her father admitted to the hospital for severe respiratory issues, she found it inconceivable that he could have left the medical facility unnoticed, primarily considering his critical state that required constant assistance even for the most basic of movements.

This inconceivability has laid the foundations for the family’s legal case, which centers around the hospital’s alleged dereliction of duty and absolute negligence. The fact that hospital management delayed in addressing the family’s concerns and offered no explanation for Mathabele's unmonitored departure outside the premises has only fanned the flames of the family’s resolve for accountability and compensation.

Advocate July Sibuyi, representing the Mathabele family, asserts that the hospital staff failed to fulfill their legal obligations to safeguard the patient, leading to the untimely death of Mathabele. In demanding justice, the lawsuit not only highlights the personal trauma experienced by the bereaved family but also raises pressing concerns about systemic failures within the healthcare system.

Despite reaching out to the Mpumalanga Department of Health for a statement, spokesperson Dumisani Malamule refrained from comment due to the sub judice status of the matter. This silence does little to calm the storm, as the family navigates through their grief amid efforts to ensure that such negligence doesn't befall another family in the future.

Mpumalanga’s healthcare system now finds itself in the critical spotlight, compelled to reexamine patient safety measures and care protocols. The outcome of this lawsuit could very well set a precedent for future cases and possibly instigate a chain reaction of systemic healthcare improvements sought by communities throughout South Africa.