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By REGINALD KANYANE

North West Department of Education said investigations against the Maphoitsile Primary School principal, William Maboitshege are being ‘delayed’ after he took time off due to sickness.

Maboitshege was removed from the school after he was accused of sexually assaulting a Grade 6 female learner a few months ago. It is alleged that Maboitshege sexually violated a learner by touching her breasts and private parts without her consent. 

North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “The matter is being investigated by our labour unit. However, the investigations are still on even though the principal is on sick leave. He was temporarily removed from the school pending investigations.”

Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) and community members embarked on a march that led to Maboitshege’s removal. SANCO branch organizer, Lucky Tidikwe said they have engaged in a consultative meeting with the department and they are happy that Maboitshege was finally removed.

“The learner reported this matter to her grandmother who is her guardian. However, nothing was done to address this matter even though the parent went to school to report it. What Maboitshege did was wrong and surprisingly, more than five female learners also came forward with the same allegations.

“Imagine, the same teacher taught us many years ago, so he was supposed to regard these children as his granddaughters. So, it is clear that our learners are not living in a safer environment here. We have also advised the parent of the learner to go and open a criminal case with the police,” Tidikwe said.

According to http://www.legalwise.org.za website: “Sexual abuse is where a person has sexual relations with another person without his or her consent, such as rape or sexual violation. The rights of a child must be protected at all costs and every child has the right to dignity, such as not to be humiliated, freedom and security, such as not to be subjected to any form of violence and not to have his/her body touched in an inappropriate way, which would include sexual abuse.

“Bring criminal charges against any person who has committed an offence against him/her, such as that a child who has been sexually abused by his/her teacher has a right to report this to the South African Police Service (SAPS).”

The website said a child can report an offence without the assistance of his/her parents or legal guardians, however, it is advisable that a child consult with them for assistance, report any incident, such as sexual abuse by a teacher, to another teacher at his/her school, and bring a civil claim in court (such as a claim for damages) against a teacher who sexually abused him/her.

It reported that the child will need the assistance of his/her parent or legal guardian to bring a civil claim in court. A website said a teacher is required to place the interests of a child first.

“While a child is at school, a teacher has a duty of care over such a child. This means that a teacher must look after the child and act as the child’s parents, especially where there may be a threat to the safety of the child.

“A teacher also has a duty to report any knowledge that s/he may have that a child is being sexually abused. Except for the teacher, there is a general duty on every person who has knowledge of a child being sexually abused to report that knowledge.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com  

 

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

One of the nurses at the Taung District Hospital accuses the management of favouritism. This comes three nurses who were suspended for malpractice are back at work. 

The nurses were suspended over misconduct and negligence allegations after a patient, Kegomoditswe Tankie (21) from Diretsang village near Taung was seen on a video circulated on social media allegedly giving birth on the floor at the ‘disgraced’ hospital without any assistance.

Now, the nurse who wants to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal said: “I am so surprised to see them back at work. There was no communication from the management regarding the investigations and I just wonder if we will pretend that everything is back to normal just like that.

“The management does not take responsibility for what happened. These nurses will continue to do as they please if not held accountable. They neglected their duties for heaven sake, but no actions were taken against them because they are the management’s favourites.”

Dejected Tankie then said, she always heard many people complaining about the abuse of patients by healthcare staff in maternity settings in the hospital, but never thought one day she will be the victim herself.

According to her, she went to the hospital for labour and was put in the maternity ward with other pregnant women.

“The nurses who were on duty were in the other room and informed us to go to them if we experience any labour pains. Indeed, I experienced some pains and I went to seek help from them. They assessed and monitored the baby’s condition and ordered me to go back to where I was.

“They said I must come back at around 11:30, however, I experienced some labour contractions after reaching the room. When I arrived at the ward, I put a towel on the floor next to my bed to rest on it as I was unable to climb the bed,” she said.

Tankie further said she was also thirsty and requested water from one of the women in the ward. She added that then she went to the nurses after feeling some excruciating pains, but one of the officials in the corridors ordered her to go back saying nurses were still busy.

“I was in severe pain, but I managed to go back to the room again. I stand next to my bed and my legs were cramped. I was feeling nauseated and my water broke. The doctor was called and said I will be ready for labour at 00:20.

“However, I gave birth on the floor without any healthcare staff assistance. Now, I mull taking legal actions for medical negligence,” she said.

Belinda Lungile who was also in the maternity ward at the time of the incident alleged that nurses were rude and have arbitrary acts of unkindness toward pregnant patients.

“The abuse towards patients in that ward is well-documented. Since I was at the hospital, I saw the verbal abuse and psychological abuse many patients were subjected to. On 16 February 2021 before this initial incident, I saw nurses abusing some helpless patients and I confronted them.

“However, they also tried to bully me but I stand my ground. They even said I think I am somebody of importance and advocating for those patients will not take me anywhere. It is so ridiculous to find many women shouted at, sometimes beaten and neglected in that maternity care facility,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said even though these nurses are back at work, the investigation continues.

“A preliminary report had revealed that the said patient was admitted on the 13 February 2021 and she was seen once daily, but there is no clear plan. The assessment was done on the 16 February 2021 at 7:30pm and not reviewed until a patient delivers at 11pm.

“However, there is no indication of self-delivery, according to the record as a patient was assisted during the third stage of labour. Generally speaking, these are rare cases where a patient delivers earlier than anticipated time and because of shortage of nursing staff where midwives have to juggle around more than one patient,” Lekgethwane said.

He said in future, the department will improve monitoring and surveillance of all pregnant women due to delivery after a shred of impeccable evidence on a video, where the patient was seen struggling to get terms of giving birth, while a newborn was on the floor.

Many patients at the hospital, especially at maternity ward continue to complain about the poor service and abuse they are subjected to by the nurses. However, Lekgethwane said: “All alleged incidents are reported to the Adverse Events Committee. The committee continually reviews these cases with a view to close gaps and improve on management.  

“This will be coupled with management review of the number of staff allocated to the ward-based on the ward capacity and patient ratio.”

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