Dr Alulutho Mazwi, a medical intern at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, was not forced to work while ill, the Health Ombud found, identifying pulmonary embolism as the most likely cause of his death.
The Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, has found no direct causal link between the deaths of healthcare professionals investigated in KwaZulu-Natal and workplace bullying, victimisation or adverse working conditions, but warned that serious systemic challenges continue to affect healthcare workers across the province.
Mokoena made the findings public during a media briefing on Wednesday, where he released the report of a joint investigation into the six deaths of healthcare professionals at public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.
The investigation, conducted with the assistance of the Public Service Commission, followed complaints lodged by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and former chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, amid public concern and extensive media reports surrounding the deaths.
Mokoena said the investigation sought to establish whether workplace conditions, human resource practices or broader systemic challenges contributed to the deaths.
