Limpopo family sues health MEC over psychiatric patient’s death

The family of a psychiatric patient who died after he was allegedly attacked by another patient at Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton, Limpopo, is suing health MEC Masesi Mashego for damages in connection with the incident. Klaas Ledwaba allegedly died during a scuffle with another psychiatric patient having a psychotic episode and started attacking those around him. The patient, 45, was allegedly shot in both legs by a security officer who was attempting to defuse the situation.

Another security officer suffered gunshot wounds allegedly caused by a ricochet of a bullet fired by a fellow officer in the incident. However, Ledwaba’s family say his death remains surrounded by confusion and conflicting reports, with questions whether he was also shot by the hospital’s private security personnel. The two armed guards are alleged to have first run away from the allegedly aggressive patient, but returned and opened fire through a locked gate.

The family has since escalated its fight for accountability and issued summons in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane after receiving no response to a formal letter of demand served on Mashego. According to the family’s lawyers, Hlayisani Ngobeni Attorneys, the letter was delivered to the MEC, but no reply was received within the stipulated timeframe. “Consequently, summons have now been issued in the high court.

[paywall]

We are awaiting the allocation of a case number,” said attorney Kamogelo Maphanga. Once a case number has been assigned, the family intends to formally serve both the MEC and the private security company contracted at the time of the incident. The legal action follows months of dispute over the circumstances surrounding Ledwaba’s death at the public health facility.

[/paywall]