MEC Simelane warns KZN health workers against fraudulent activities

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has warned healthcare workers against fraudulent activities within the department, vowing strong consequences. 

This after three nurses from the Applesbosch Hospital came under fire after they took out insurance policies for a patient.

Two of them got payouts for the fraud.  

The MEC said that while the matter is underway, investigations into similar would-be offenders will face consequences.

In 2023, Nduduzo Mbatha was admitted to the Applesbosch Hospital, where his mother worked as a cleaner.

The mother had no clue that her colleagues, nurses at the hospital, took advantage of her child’s frail health for personal gain.

Following Mbatha’s passing last year, the nurses allegedly got money from the policies. 

The Mbatha family is now calling for justice in this regard.

Meanwhile, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has condemned the conduct.

"I’d like to warn healthcare workers if this really happened, it is not meant to. If there are some who are doing such, we are urging them to stop. We will find out; you’ll lose your job and livelihood because of this," said Simelane.

The nurses have since resigned and refused to give their side of the story.

Police and the SIU are investigating the matter.