By Zuko Komisa
- A nurse at Durban’s King Dinizulu Hospital has been provisionally suspended after viral video footage showed her allegedly assaulting a male patient.
- The provincial health department launched an investigation into the incident, stating the conduct “violates the core values of our health-care system and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
- Political parties and advocacy groups are calling for criminal charges and regulatory action via the South African Nursing Council amid broader concerns over public healthcare standards in KwaZulu-Natal.
A nurse at King Dinizulu Hospital in Durban has been placed on precautionary suspension following the viral circulation of social media footage depicting her allegedly physically assaulting a male patient.
The clip shows the masked nurse aggressively poking the man near his eyes as he raises a hand in self-defence, before she moves on to attend to another patient whilst continuing to confront him.
Condemning the conduct, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health stated that the behaviour “violates the core values of our health-care system and will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” confirming a full internal investigation is under way.
The incident has triggered wider political fallout, with opposition parties and oversight bodies calling for criminal charges and reporting the healthcare worker to the South African Nursing Council (SANC).
The outrage highlights ongoing public scrutiny regarding patient safety, staff ethics, and operational standards across public health facilities in the province.
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