The Metsimaholo Municipality Constituency Head, Dr Igor Scheurkogel
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
26 December 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it demands full accountability from the Free State Department of Health following documented medical negligence that left a patient permanently harmed and facing a future hip replacement. The party said this case exposes deep systemic failures across multiple public hospitals and underscores the urgent need for reform in the province’s healthcare system.
The Metsimaholo Municipality Constituency Head, Dr Igor Scheurkogel said a patient’s life changed dramatically after a pedestrian vehicle accident in April 2025. Scheurkogel said what should have been the routine management of superficial burn wounds escalated into severe sepsis, invasive debridement and long-term disability due to repeated failures at Fezi Ngubentombi, Pelonomi Regional, and Boitumelo Regional Hospitals.
“A formal complaint details a pattern of professional misconduct, including failure to diagnose and treat burn wounds, ignored signs of deterioration, refusal to perform necessary wound care, and reliance on informal, inappropriate clinical instructions.
“The FSDoH failed to provide appropriate, timely care, denying the right to access healthcare services under our Constitution. The hospitals breached the National Health Act by delivering sub-standard services and ignoring their mandated duties of care,” he said.
Scheurkogel further said following persistent by pressure from him as a Member of Parliament (MP) via the Minister of Health, the FSDoH has reclassified the complaint as a Patient Safety Incident (PSI). He added that this move is more than administrative.
“It confirms that FSDoH management is under direct scrutiny for clinical failure rather than poor service. The department has also extended its investigation timeframe from 25 to 60 working days, projecting a resolution deadline of 9 February 2026. Officials have confirmed that a Redress Meeting will be convened once the investigation concludes.
“This meeting will be the formal negotiation stage before a settlement offer is made. Given the seriousness of the PSI classification, legal representation will be essential during this redress process,” said Scheurkogel.
He said they call on the Free State Department of Health to acknowledge liability and compensate the patient for the physical, emotional and financial harm suffered, implement systemic reforms to prevent similar negligence and engage transparently in the redress process with the patient’s legal representatives. Scheurkogel further urges the department to address broader systemic failures and honour its constitutional obligation to provide accessible, dignified, and safe healthcare to all residents.
“Members of the public are encouraged to support the ongoing campaign for accountability by signing the Democratic Alliance petition. Free State Health Services Have Become a Death Trap. Together, we can demand that no patient endures preventable harm at the hands of those entrusted with their care,” he said.
The Guardian 