SAHRC Welcomes Health Ombud Report on Psychiatric Patients Freezing to Death in Northern Cape Hospitals

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in the Northern Cape has welcomed the findings of the Health Ombud’s report following an investigation into conditions at Northern Cape healthcare facilities, where the report revealed that psychiatric patients had frozen to death at the provincial Mental Health Hospital and the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, with SAHRC Provincial Head Uzair Adams saying the Commission will submit its preliminary investigative report to the Northern Cape Health MEC, as their findings show that safety and security protocols were not followed, among other serious concerns.

Health Ombud’s Scathing Findings on Patient Deaths

The Health Ombud’s report, released by Professor Taole Mokoena on 31 July 2025, painted a grim picture of neglect and systemic failures at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital (NCMHH) in Kimberley and the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH). The investigation was triggered by the deaths of psychiatric patients from hypothermia—freezing to death—during a cold snap between July and August 2025, when temperatures dropped below freezing in the region. At least two patients at NCMHH succumbed to extreme cold exposure, with one case involving a patient named Mohoto, whose life might have been saved if proper care had been provided. The report highlighted that patients were left in unheated wards amid a year-long power outage at NCMHH, where backup generators failed, and basic amenities like warm blankets and heating were absent.

Professor Mokoena’s probe found that several patients were admitted to RMSH in critical condition with hypothermia and other serious ailments, but the general care at both facilities was inadequate. Issues included poor infrastructure, such as broken windows and doors that let in cold air, unstable leadership, and a lack of emergency protocols. The Ombud described the situation as a “deadly neglect,” where doctors and staff failed in their duties, leading to preventable deaths. For instance, patients were not monitored closely, and transfers between the mental health hospital and RMSH were mishandled, resulting in delayed treatment. The report also noted that the hospitals’ leadership was unstable, contributing to a breakdown in oversight and accountability.

This investigation was a joint effort, initiated after the SAHRC received an invitation from the Health Ombud’s office on 29 October 2024 to participate. The SAHRC’s Northern Cape office had already started its own inquiry into the conditions at NCMHH, treating it as an own-initiative complaint to probe potential human rights violations. Their preliminary findings align with the Ombud’s, revealing systemic issues like ignored safety measures, inadequate heating during winter, and overall poor management that put vulnerable patients at risk.

SAHRC’s Response and Next Steps

Uzair Adams, the SAHRC’s Provincial Head in the Northern Cape, described the Ombud’s report as “scathing” but welcomed it for shining a light on deep-rooted problems. He confirmed that the Commission has finalised its preliminary investigative report, which will soon be sent to the respondents—the Northern Cape MEC for Health and the Head of the Department of Health—for their input. Once approved and responses are received, the full report will be forwarded to the national Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. Adams stressed that their probe uncovered “systemic human rights violations,” including failures to uphold the right to life, dignity, and healthcare as enshrined in the Constitution.

The SAHRC’s involvement underscores the broader human rights implications of these deaths. Psychiatric patients, often among the most vulnerable, deserve protection from harm, and the Commission’s recommendations will likely call for urgent reforms, such as better funding for mental health facilities, staff training, and infrastructure upgrades. This is not the first such incident; similar concerns have arisen in other provinces, like the Life Esidimeni tragedy in Gauteng, where over 140 mental health patients died after being moved to unfit NGOs in 2016. The Northern Cape case highlights ongoing national issues in mental healthcare, where underfunding and neglect lead to avoidable tragedies.

Calls for Accountability and Disciplinary Action

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, responding to the report, said doctors and staff at the hospitals failed in their duties and that the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) would decide on any recommendations for sanctions. He described the findings as a clear case of “treatment, clinical care, and management failure,” urging swift action to prevent repeats. The Public Service Association (PSA) trade union echoed this, demanding disciplinary measures against implicated health officials for the collapse of services.

The South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) also reacted strongly, calling the report a wake-up call for better care in psychiatric facilities. They noted that the deaths expose a “paradox of neglect” in a system meant to protect the vulnerable, urging government to prioritise mental health funding and oversight. Civil society groups have joined in, pushing for independent audits of all provincial mental health hospitals to ensure compliance with basic human rights standards.

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