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AGGRIEVED: Angelina Mahlangu whose mentally ill son was beaten up by a nurse at the Jubilee hospital. Photo: Tsheko Kabasia

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The incident is said to have happened in August when the senior nurse at Jubilee Hospital's crisis centre in Hammanskraal allegedly assaulted Thato Mahlangu, 34, who had gone to the hospital for an examination.

Mahlangu, who is a schizophrenic and glue addict, has been an outpatient at the centre since 1999. He was due to go to a rehab centre in Mafikeng when the assault took place.

According to witnesses, the nurse had accused Thato of stealing her cellphone and the centre's iron during one of his previous visits.

When he visited the hospital again on August 11 for a check-up, four security guards apprehended him and handcuffed him, before handing him over to the nurse, whose name is known to the Sowetan. The police were then called.

Said a witness: "While they were waiting for the police, the nurse started hitting the patient in the face with a diary.

"He got upset and spat in her face.

"That's when she lost it and grabbed a baton from one of the the security guards and started assaulting him all over his body, including his private parts.

"The security guards just stood there in shock. The patient could not do anything to protect himself as he was handcuffed."

When the police arrived they took the patient to the casualty ward, where he was allegedly sedated but did not arrest him.

The witness said the patient later woke up and went home.

His mother, Angelina, said he sustained a swollen elbow and other scars on his body.

Mahlangu was later admitted at a rehab centre in Mahikeng.

"I don't understand why a professional nurse would do such a thing to a mentally disturbed patient," Angelina said.

Temba police station commissioner Brigadier Rene Mulder confirmed that a case of assault had been opened against the nurse, who would not comment.

Jubilee Hospital CEO Damario Magano also refused to comment on whether the hospital would take any action against the nurse.

- sifilel@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Sat May 25 00:08:51 SAST 2013 ::

Nov 2, 2012

warry

Security guards are used unfairly. The do almost anything and with fear. Eish.
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Nov 2, 2012

Mellow

I hope they fire the nurse and security guards as well incompetent useless beings someone failed to do their job properly firstly what does a nurse on duty do with a personal phone she clearly wont be giving anyone attention and secondly this stupid security mense they dont do their job arent they supposed to search everyone going in and leaving the hospital? So now they think they can beat up a mentally unstable person? Shame!!!
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Nov 2, 2012

warry

Highly impossible to search all. Nurses should have lockers go keep their personal properties safe during work. Security officers are used and are scared. To them a nurse keep mohlomphegi. They bow.
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Nov 2, 2012

Pointman

Put yourself in the nurses place - you are trying to help someone and they turn around and steal from you - you will lose your temper too. The patient was schizophrenic and an addict. He should have been taken to a mental hospital in the first place.
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Nov 2, 2012

todaysnews

somebody should beat her up.
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Nov 2, 2012

Mdala

Imihlola ayipheli

What's wrong with SA?
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Nov 2, 2012

MommaC

Why is this woman being allowed to deal with mentally disturbed people? If she doesn't have the patience to deal with them then she shouldn't be working there. They can be very trying but it isn't their fault and beating them up is just cruel. It is like hitting someone for getting injured
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Nov 2, 2012

spirro

this are kind of those nurses who went to the fly by night colleges, she is not well trained, the department must review her qualifications, and see if she is really a qualified nurse.
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Nov 2, 2012

Mosquer

Temba police station commissioner Brigadier Rene Mulder confirmed that a case of assault had been opened against the nurse, who would not comment.
********
Did they arrest the nurse?
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Nov 2, 2012

ThirdEye

does she have evidence that it him?
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