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YNITU Defends Midrand Nurse After Viral Video Incident

The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) has come to the defense of a nurse featured in a controversial viral video at the Halfway House Clinic in Midrand, alleging that the footage was selectively edited to misrepresent the incident.
According to YNITU, the confrontation arose after the nurse was called back from her lunch break to assist patients. The union alleges that a Zimbabwean patient, described as a regular clinic visitor with a history of confrontational behavior, provoked the incident by demanding priority treatment and disrupting an ongoing consultation.
WATCH | A Zimbabwean woman’s experience at a medical facility in Midrand, South Africa. pic.twitter.com/CQ8WPGiHGJ
— Crime Watch Zimbabwe (@crimewatchzw) January 16, 2025
“The patient physically confronted the nurse, preventing her from leaving to seek assistance,” YNITU stated, emphasizing that the video only captured the aftermath when the nurse was speaking to her line manager.
The nurse involved has since filed assault charges against the patient. Additionally, the patient faces further legal action from another individual linked to the altercation.
The union attributed the incident to deeper systemic issues in South Africa’s healthcare system, including chronic staff shortages and inadequate resources.
“The nurses in South Africa, through their vigorous training, understand that Section 27 of the Constitution provides everyone the right to access healthcare services,” YNITU said in a statement.
They also called for:
- Improved security measures in healthcare facilities.
- Better management support for frontline healthcare workers.
- Increased resources to address the overwhelming workload faced by nurses.
The SA nurse vs Zim patient conversation continues:
Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) stands firm with the NURSE in viral video shared by a Zimbabwe patient visiting halfway house clinic in Midrand.
YNITU Media Statement
18 January 2025
The Nurses in South Africa… pic.twitter.com/G3quw9O1qx— Lerato Pillay 🇿🇦💎🇿🇦 (@nyebe_official) January 18, 2025
YNITU argued that the pressures of understaffing and limited resources contribute to heightened tensions between patients and healthcare workers. The union emphasized the need for systemic reform to create a safer and more efficient healthcare environment.
YNITU urged the public to consider the full context of incidents like this, rather than relying on selectively edited videos. “Healthcare workers are human too, and they work tirelessly under challenging conditions to serve the public,” the union said.
This incident has sparked broader discussions about the treatment of healthcare workers and the need for reform in South Africa’s struggling healthcare sector.
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