By OBAKENG MAJE
24 JANUARY 2025- A patient who was admitted at Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex as part of a cohort of 33 suspected illegal miners, has died. The deceased was identified as Jonny Shingani and was admitted at the facility on 14 January 2025, following a successful extraction of illegal miners underground by National Rescue Operation, at the disused mines in Stilfontein last week.
The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Lucas Mothibedi said Shingani passed away on 23 January 2025 due to a medical-related condition. Mothibedi said from the three-day National Rescue Operation, 246 suspected illegal miners were medically assessed by their healthcare professionals before being handed over to the police, while 33 had to be admitted, for further medical care.
“The total number of those who have passed on from 33 that were admitted, is now 2. All our healthcare professionals remain committed to saving lives. This, became evident when 14 of the 32 remaining patients, were treated, discharged from the facility and handed over to the South African Police Services (SAPS), for criminal proceedings.
“Currently, the department only has 17 admitted patients from the Stilfotein’s extraction. The department wishes to inform members of the media that it will not be running a media commentary on patients’ personal information, including medical condition treated for, and their current medical status amongst others,” he said.
Mothibedi further said this is in line with the department’s stringent adherence to the National Health Act, of 2003, that emphasises rights of patients’ confidentiality. He added that this fundamental Act is generally applied across all patients under their care.
The Guardian 