A 35-year-old female patient from the psychiatric ward at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Pretoria has died after a tragic fire broke out at the facility.
The Gauteng department of health has confirmed the incident, which occurred at the hospital on Monday evening.
The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said the patient was admitted at the hospital on June 20, 2024. She was admitted to receive mental health services.
“As part of her recommended treatment, she was put in a seclusion room Monday. Around 6:35 in the evening, a little fire and smoldering smoke emerged from the seclusion chamber,” said Modiba.
Cause of fire being probed
Modiba said the safety and well-being of the patients were secured and protected right away. However, the patient in the seclusion room sustained fatal injuries. This despite the fire being swiftly confined and put out by the fire department.
“Seventeen other patients in the unit were successfully evacuated. [They were] temporarily relocated to a different wing of the psychiatric department as a precautionary measure. The cause of the fire is still unknown at this stage,” Modiba added.
The incident has been reported to the South African Police Service for further investigation. Families of the patients will receive counselling.
Counselling service provided for other patients
“The department wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the patient’s family as they mourn the sudden passing of their daughter. Both the bereaved family and the families of the 17 patients will be taken through a debriefing. Counseling services will also be made available to them.”
Section 27 calls for implicated officials to be criminally charged.
The officials include former Gauteng mental health head Makgabo Manamela and former MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu.
