Tebogo Monama

Tebogo Monama

The founder and chief executive of the hospital that refused to treat a dying Soweto man says he will meet the family.

Peter Matseke, a medical doctor, has promised to meet Johannes Manqele's family to discuss the way forward after he was turned away from the Selby Park Clinic.

"I am still planning on meeting the family to clarify the matter," he said.

Manqele developed heart problems last week and the only nearby hospital was Selby Park Private Hospital. He was refused entry to the hospital and died on arrival at the Hillbrow Clinic.

Selby Park is not licensed to treat casualties.

"We have never refused a patient at one of our facilities where we were able to assist and save a life," Matseke said.

"The situation at Selby is different in that it has been structured to operate as a subacute facility that does not handle casualty patients and does not have a casualty facility."

He said: "We are saddened by the incident and the impression given that the patient was turned away because he was either not referred or not on medical aid."

National Health Department spokesman Fidel Hadebe said: "The department condemns the incident. In terms of the National Health Act health facilities are not supposed to turn away patients.

"They should at least stabilise the patient and then send them away," Hadebe said.

He said the department would investigate the matter because it feels it goes against the Constitution and Health Act.