North West hospitals found negligent in teacher's stab wound treatment, leading to brain damage.
The North West High Court has overturned an earlier ruling that dismissed a medical negligence claim brought by a schoolteacher who suffered permanent brain damage after delays in receiving emergency treatment for stab wounds at two provincial hospitals.
A full bench comprising Judge Andre Reddy, Acting Judge J.T. Maodi and Acting Judge G. Maree found that Tebogo Joseph Koboyatau had proved that negligent treatment at Gelukspan District Hospital and Mafikeng Provincial Hospital caused the catastrophic injuries that left him permanently disabled.
The court upheld his appeal against a 2024 High Court decision that dismissed his claim.
At the time, Koboyatau was a 29-year-old teacher at Ikopanyeng Secondary School when he was stabbed in the left side of his chest and upper arm in June 2014. He was initially treated at Setlagole Clinic before being transferred to Gelukspan District Hospital later that evening.
