RESIDENTS of Motherwell, Gqeberha, closed clinics after a 15-year-old rape victim was turned away, and later died.
Zenizole Vena was allegedly gang raped on 21 September. She was rushed to the NU11 clinic, but was turned away.
Her gogo Noluthando Gubayo said she was turned away after a nurse said they did not deal with rape victims, and she needed to go to the police station.
“She collapsed when she arrived at the station and started vomiting. She died while waiting for an ambulance,” she said.
Community leader Thobela Ngomela said frail patients were left waiting for hours before they got helped.
“Mostly women, children and the elderly suffer as they don’t have the means to go to a different clinic,” said Ngomela, adding that they closed the clinic because they wanted the health department to pay attention.
“We don’t want nurses who come here just to collect pay. We will only allow this clinic to be opened once the department brings other staff.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Health District Director Darlene de Vos said: “The preliminary report indicates that the girl was attended to at the NU11 clinic and found to be stable. She was then referred to the police for the incident to be reported.”
De Vos said when someone was raped, the incident needed to be reported, then the patient would be taken to Thuthuzela Centre.
Colonel Priscilla Naidu said: “Police have opened an inquest docket and a rape case.
“A woman (58) found Vena on the street, having an epileptic seizure and vomiting. When the ambulance arrived, she had already died. No arrest have been made.”
