In November 2023, 64-year-old Klass Skosana was allegedly turned away from two different health facilities: Impungwe Hospital and Witbank Hospital, after he collapsed at his home in the township of Van Dyk in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga.  

His granddaughter Nonhlanhla Skosana (25) says that the night Skosana collapsed, his neighbours notified her, and she had to make the 20km trip to his home. 

“I got there around seven in the evening and immediately took him to Impungwe Hospital where we were told that his blood pressure was too high and there was nothing they could do for him because he was not on any medication. We went home and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, he got worse, he had a nosebleed for the whole night,” Nonhlanhla recalls.

The next day Nonhlanhla hired a car to take them to Witbank Hospital. They experienced the same treatment. The family felt they were not listened to or taken seriously when they said the grandfather was not on any medication.

“Maybe we should have lied that he was on medication, maybe we wouldn’t be here today where my grandfather is unable to walk and is constantly in pain,” cries Nonhlanhla. 

Mpumalanga Department of Health spokesperson Dumisane Malamule says that the department does not refuse treatment to citizens and that they will investigate this further.

“We encourage the community not to leave the facility if they are not happy about services. Instead, they should report the matter immediately to the CEO or manager of that facility. The patient should visit the nearest health facility to get help as soon as possible,” says Malamule.

Worsening condition 

A month later, in December 2023 the family noticed what looked like insect bites on Skosana’s legs. Several days later his legs looked like they were rotting. 

Nonhlanhla has been treating him with traditional herbs, which are not helping, because it seems like the more they treat the wounds, the worse they get. 

“At first it looked as if the wound was closing, and then the skin over the wound turned black and was hard to the touch, it didn’t look like his normal skin. And then the legs got worse,” she says. “Mkhulu has been experiencing pain for the past eight months, and the family is afraid of going to the public health facilities.” 

She’s currently not working they are relying on her husband’s money and her grandfather’s grant for survival. 

Dr Harry Ledwaba, a medical doctor, says, based on the description provided by Nonhlanhla as well as the photos he’s seen, Skosana may have developed a flesh-eating bacteria known as Necrotizing fasciitis. According to Ledwaba, anyone can get infected, but people with poor immune systems are the most vulnerable. Research shows that risk factors for the disease include being older than 50 years, having diabetes, hypertension, and malnutrition. 

“It is a curable infection, treatable with intravenous antibiotics and sometimes needs surgery to remove the dead tissues and plastic surgery for skin graft. When not diagnosed and treated early it can be life-threatening because it can lead to septicemia and death,” says Ledwaba. – Health-e News