A nurse at King Dinuzulu Hospital in Durban has been placed on precautionary suspension after a video allegedly showing her assaulting a patient went viral on social media.
The footage, which circulated widely on X, shows the nurse standing beside a male patient’s bed before pointing at him and repeatedly pushing her finger into his face. The patient is seen raising his hand as if to protect himself, while the nurse continues engaging with him before moving towards another patient.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health said it had taken the matter seriously and ordered an urgent internal investigation into the nurse’s conduct.
Health department condemns conduct
The department strongly condemned what is depicted in the video, saying such behaviour has no place in the province’s healthcare facilities.
“The Department unequivocally condemns this behaviour in the strongest possible terms. The conduct displayed in the video is completely unacceptable, violates the core values of our healthcare system, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the department said.
It said the nurse would remain on precautionary suspension while the circumstances surrounding the incident are investigated.
“Following the emergence of the video, the Department has acted decisively. The nurse in question will be placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect, pending a full and thorough internal investigation into the matter,” it said.
‘Corporal punishment has no place’
KwaZulu-Natal Health spokesperson Nathi Olifant said the alleged conduct was being investigated as a matter of urgency.
“We confirm that we are investigating this specific conduct as a matter of urgency. Corporal punishment has no place in our facilities, and we are committed to ensuring that all our patients are treated with the dignity, respect, and care they deserve,” Olifant said.
The department said disciplinary action would be considered once the investigation had been completed.
“We assure the public that we are taking this incident seriously and will ensure that appropriate disciplinary action is taken once the investigation is concluded,” it said.
Calls for further action
The incident has also prompted calls for the matter to go beyond the department’s internal disciplinary process.
DA KwaZulu-Natal health spokesperson Dr Imran Keeka said the nurse should face further consequences if the allegations are confirmed. He said the party would report the matter to the South African Nursing Council.
“This is gross professional misconduct,” Keeka said, arguing that patients should receive treatment with dignity, compassion and respect rather than being subjected to abuse.
He said criminal charges should also be considered if the allegations are proven.
The department has not indicated what disciplinary action may follow, saying the investigation must first establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.
