NOKUTHULA Mahlangu’s mother, who died almost a year ago, visits her at night, telling her she is cold.
Now Nokuthula (40) lives with painful eyes because the Kwamhlanga Hospital in Bronkhorstspruit, Mpumalanga, apparently has refused to give her the clothes her late mother was wearing when she was admitted to the hospital.
She said her mother Siponono Mahlangu (81) tells her she wants her clothes because she is feeling cold.
Nokuthula from Delmas told Daily Sun her mum said she will become blind if she doesn’t get the clothes.
“When I woke up, my face was swollen and my eyes were itching. I went to the doctor, but there was no change. I am in pain because of the hospital’s negligence,” she said.
“My culture says if a person dies, she must be buried in the clothes she was wearing. I don’t know what to do to appease her.”
Nokuthula told the SunTeam her mother was admitted to the hospital on 18 September last year and died the same day.
She said the hospital informed her on 20 September.
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“At the hospital, I asked for her clothes, but they said they couldn’t find them,” she said.
“I told them my mother was dressed when she was admitted.” Even the doctor agreed that she was clothed.”
Nokuthula said she has had five meetings with the hospital management and they have promised they will help her.
“The hospital has now turned against me and no longer wants to help.
“They told me to get a lawyer and I can’t afford one,” she said.
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She said her mum’s missing clothes is a head scarf, boots, faskoti and a pantry coat. She said she was forced to bury her mother without the clothes and follow up on them after the funeral.
Mpumalanga Department of Health spokesman Dumisani Malamule said the department is investigating the matter.
