Ombud finds no workplace link in KZN health worker deaths

By Akani Nkuna

Health Ombudsman professor Taole Mokoena has found no direct causal link between the deaths of six healthcare workers in KwaZulu-Natal and workplace bullying, victimisation or adverse working conditions, but said that his investigation exposed serious weaknesses across the public health system.

Mokoena briefed the media in Pretoria on Wednesday after an investigation into the deaths of six public health establishments in the province, following complaints lodged amid public concern over the deaths of healthcare professionals.

“The investigation found no evidence pointing to a direct causal link between the deaths under investigation and bullying, victimisation or adverse working conditions at any of the facilities concerned. However, this is an important finding because much of the public discourse pointed to workplace factors that directly caused these deaths,” he said.

“The finding does not mean that the health system is free of serious challenges. On the contrary, the investigation uncovered