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Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A GRIEVING mum who had just lost her daughter at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo ran amok and attacked a nurse with a used needle and fists, accusing the hospital staffer of causing the death of her child.
In a dramatic incident which happened on August 1, the woman allegedly unplugged all life support tubes from her daughter’s body and started shouting at hospital staff accusing them of causing her death.
Thabani Manyathela, 30, a male nurse, was attacked as he tried to console Sihle Nyathi, 36, of How Mine who lost it when she was told her daughter had died.
The girl’s age was not given in court yesterday when Nyathi appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Charity Maphosa facing a charge of assault.
She pleaded not guilty saying she did not commit the offence.
Magistrate Maphosa remanded her out of custody to August 21.
“I understand the charges levelled against me but I didn’t assault anyone at the hospital,” Nyathi said.
Taurai Hondoyemoto, for the State, alleges that on August 1 at around 7.30AM, Nyathi’s daughter Thandekile Zulu was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit.
“Her situation kept deteriorating and she passed away in the presence of Nyathi and her husband Godfrey Zulu. Manyathela took the parents to a counselling room where Dr S. Khumalo told them of their daughter’s death,” said Hondoyemoto.
“Nyathi could not stomach the sad news and stormed out of the room headed towards the intensive care unit. Manyathela tried stopping Nyathi who had become emotional but he was overpowered.”
Hondoyemoto said Nyathi went straight to her daughter’s body which was still on the bed.
“She started crying and violently removed and unplugged all life support tubes which were still on the girl’s body.
“Nyathi went back to where Manyathela was and threw a used injection needle which had been on her daughter’s leg and it hit him on the right cheek,” said Hondoyemoto.
Nyathi allegedly started shouting at the hospital staff and together with her husband, later proceeded to assault the doctor.
A police report was made leading to Nyathi’s arrest.
Online Reporter