Kalafong Hospital’s poor services need a healthy emergency transfusion

Once more local residents are complaining about poor services at Kalafong Hospital, which is the feeder hospital for Laudium and surrounds.

The hospital falls under the ANC-led Gauteng Provincial Government, and none other than the ANC’s Naeem Patel is part of the Centurion PCO office of the ANC, where representatives from the Province and National Office sit together to address the concerns of residents.

This time Victor Govender, father of Chris Govender, shared the nightmare his son and family members experienced at Kalafong Hospital recently.

Victor told the Laudium Sun, “About three weeks back on a Monday evening, at approximately 8:15pm, my son Chris was on his way to the Engen Garage in West Park to refuel his car. He was accompanied by my nephew. Upon arriving at the garage, they unknowingly walked into an active armed robbery. Moments later, the suspects opened fire using live ammunition, including AK-47 and 9mm weapons. Multiple shots were fired at my son’s vehicle. Two bullets penetrated the windscreen, one of them struck Chris in the left shoulder. Despite being injured, he managed to shield my nephew and get them both out of the car. He attempted to seek cover but collapsed roughly 50 meters from the vehicle. By that time, the suspects had fled the scene. I was contacted by a bystander using my son’s phone. I rushed to the scene from my Centurion home immediately. When I arrived, emergency responders, SAPS officers, and tow trucks were already on-site, but no ambulance had arrived yet. Paramedics weretreating Chris on the ground. Due to the delay, I had to transport him myself to Pretoria West Hospital, accompanied by SAPS and emergency services. At Pretoria West Hospital, we were informed that they were not equipped to treat gunshot wounds. Chris was then rushed to Kalafong Hospital, again with a full emergency escort. He was admitted into casualty at Kalafong at around 9pm. From that point until 5am the next morning, no significant medical action was taken. The bullet remained lodged in his shoulder and he was given pain medication only every six hours. At 6am, we were informed that Chris would be transferred to Steve Biko Hospital for a CT scan. The scan confirmed the bullet’s location and revealed a shattered shoulder bone. He was returned to Kalafong later that morning and placed in Ward 15 that afternoon. Still, no surgery or treatment followed. The following day, on the Wednesday, we finally met with a Dr. Khan from Kalafong at 8am. He clearly explained the situation, showed us the CT scan, confirmed the location of the bullet, and the damage caused. He said surgery would likely happen that evening and instructed that Chris not to eat from 12pm in preparation. Chris fasted the entire day and night. But at 1am, he was told the surgery would not take place and was advised to eat. At that hour, there was nothing available, leaving him weak, distressed and in worsening condition. By Thursday morning now three days later, Chris’s condition had deteriorated. His shoulder began turning blue, possibly due to clotting or internal bleeding from the lodged bullet. Still, no surgery was performed. Seeing his condition decline and unable to wait any longer, I made arrangements for his transfer to Raslouw Private Hospital. The process was unnecessarily delayed by public hospital staff. The nurses were uncooperative, doctors were unavailable and I had to run around to complete paperwork for his release. I eventually sent private emergency services to collect him. Chris was admitted to the high care section at Raslouw Private Hospital and later moved to ICU for closer monitoring. He then received the care he should have received from the start. I am deeply frustrated and disappointed by the public health system. Patients are not guinea pigs. These are real people with families, and their lives matter Why did it take four full days for anyone to act on a confirmed gunshot wound with a lodged bullet? We are still waiting for answers. Despite the failures of Kalafong, I want to express sincere gratitude to the SAPS officers and emergency responders who acted swiftly on the night of the incident. Their assistance was invaluable and deeply appreciated. We remain hopeful for Chris’s recovery. It will be a long journey, but now that he has gone under the care of capable doctors at Raslouw Private Hospital, we are taking it one day at a time.”

*Attempts to get a comment from Kalafong Hospital were unsuccessful. The ANC-led Government is clearly failing its people at all spheres of Government.