CAPE TOWN - The Public Service Commission (PSC) has initiated an investigation into the alleged rape of a teenager at Stellenbosch Hospital.
The hospital came under scrutiny over allegations of negligence and an alleged cover up of the matter after a 15-year-old was allegedly raped by another patient in the facility last month.
Police are also probing the incident.
The teenager was admitted at the hospital on September 11 after she attempted to commit suicide and was on suicide watch.
According to the girl's family, the incident happened on September 16 but they were informed about the assault only nine days later.
However the hospital says the incident allegedly occurred on the evening of September 23 and the family was reached two days later.
Western Cape PSC commissioner Leonardo Goosen confirmed they are investigating.
“The PSC investigation will focus on the processes and procedures relating to the admission to the hospital of the 15 year old girl, and the extent to which protocols were followed. The investigation will also include an assessment of the actions taken by the hospital staff at the time of the alleged rape, as well as subsequent to the alleged rape,” said Goosen.
Last Friday the family, joined by irate activists and community leaders, demonstrated outside Stellenbosch Hospital where a memorandum was handed over to a hospital representative.
They have demanded the suspension of the hospital manager, staff who knew about the incident and a nurse who said to have witnessed the incident, pending the investigations.
Family spokesperson Bianca Booysen said they were happy that the PSC was now involved.
“We have many questions about the protocols and procedures and how they were followed if the hospital does claim it has, and with the PSC we are hopeful we will get those answers. We are also happy that Children's Commissioner Christina Nomdo is monitoring the matter.
“The family is trying to cope but on Friday the mother’s father passed away and so (they) are faced with a double blow. We are still not happy with the hospital management's attitude and dissatisfied with how the girl has now been moved to Tygerberg Hospital. The mother was informed at short notice. That facility is also outside Stellenbosch and the family cannot afford to travel that far.
“This is a teenager who has mental issues and was recently violated so she needs her loved one close to her,” said Booysen.
Nomdo said she was engaging with the department of Health.
“The Commissioner for Children is concerned about reports that a child has been harmed in a public hospital. The role of the Commissioner is to understand systems level issues that undermine the safety of children who are in the care of state institutions.”
The provincial health department did not respond to questions by deadline.
Cape Times