KZN health official urges criminal charges after viral video shows nurse allegedly assaulting patient

A KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the provincial legislature has called for criminal charges after a video circulated online appears to show a nurse physically assaulting a patient at King Dinuzulu Hospital.

What the video shows

The video, which has surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), shows a nurse in a ward standing beside a patient’s bed. She is seen pointing at and then shoving her finger in a patient’s face. The two exchange words and the nurse then moves on to another patient.

Political response: DA demands criminal process

Dr Imran Keeka, MPL and the DA spokesperson on Health, said the department must follow due process and conduct its internal disciplinary processes but added the matter should not end there if the reported facts are confirmed.

“This is gross professional misconduct, and the DA will report the matter to the South African Nursing Council (SANC), the custodian of professional conduct and ethics within the nursing profession.

Keeka said the actions shown in the video appear to violate professional standards and the obligations healthcare professionals undertake. He added patients seek treatment and care with dignity and respect and “do not go to be assaulted, humiliated or abused, whether verbally or physically.”

“The law and every applicable professional process must come down hard on this individual if the allegations are proven. There must be consequences, and those consequences must send an unequivocal warning to every other healthcare professional: abuse of patients will not be tolerated,”

Health Department response and disciplinary action

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health said it has noted the video with serious concern and “unequivocally condemns this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.”

The Department said the conduct displayed in the video is unacceptable and violates the core values of the healthcare system. It confirmed the nurse has been placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect, pending a full internal investigation.

“Corporal punishment has no place in our facilities, and we are committed to ensuring that all patients are treated with the dignity, respect, and care they deserve. We assure the public that we are taking this incident seriously and will ensure that appropriate disciplinary action is taken once the investigation is concluded,”

Next steps

The DA indicated it will report the matter to the South African Nursing Council, while the Health Department‘s internal investigation will determine disciplinary outcomes. The DA spokesperson said criminal charges should also follow if the facts as reported are confirmed.