A heartbreaking incident in the Northern Cape has raised serious questions about the adequacy of healthcare services following the death of Sarah Maki, a chronic asthma sufferer, who died after staff at the Sutherland Clinic refused to help her after hours. Her husband, Hendrik Maki, has spoken out about the desperate attempt to save her life, shedding light on the ongoing crisis that has left the community reeling.
On the evening of the tragedy, Hendrik and Sarah were watching television when she suddenly struggled to breathe. In a panic, he raced to the Sutherland Clinic, only to find that a security guard was the only staff member on duty, with no medical personnel available. "There were no staff," he recalled, filled with anguish. After trying for hours to secure help, Hendrik sought assistance from the police, who accompanied him in his search for medical care.
Despite their efforts, the situation did not improve. Reports indicate that the clinic had announced on 24 November that it would not have nursing staff available from 5pm until 8am due to disputes over overtime pay that have persisted since July. Captain Marius Malan, the commander of the Sutherland Police Station, confirmed the critical state of healthcare availability, stating, “We urgently need help. The police station looks like an abattoir, with bloodied people with stab wounds coming to us for help. We are not trained to treat medical emergencies.”
The harrowing ordeal continued as Hendrik drove around town, desperately searching for help. He recalled returning to the clinic, where he and the security guard stood by an oxygen machine, unable to assist Sarah because they were unsure how to use it. Eventually, at around 12:30am, Hendrik rushed to Laingsburg Hospital, but it was too late; Sarah had passed away in the vehicle.
After making a statement to the police on Wednesday and appointing a lawyer, Hendrik expressed his outrage. “What happened to her is unjust and unacceptable! I cannot just leave it at that, because this will happen to someone else again if no one takes responsibility for it,” he declared, determined to seek accountability.
The Maki family’s loss comes amid accusations that clinic staff also denied help to a 19-year-old woman who attempted suicide by drinking poison just days before Sarah's death. Insiders reported that the young woman was later taken to Laingsburg Hospital and then transferred to a facility in Worcester due to her deteriorating condition.
The state of the Sutherland Clinic has drawn significant concern from local residents, who have had to turn to Sutherland Police Station for medical assistance after hours. As the situation worsened, an emergency meeting was convened in town to address the crisis. Dr Marita Malan, a private practitioner in Sutherland, expressed her willingness to provide help during the Christmas period if the strike continued, insisting that she needed access to the clinic's equipment to handle serious cases.
When she proposed her assistance to the provincial health department, she was told that a response would take “25 days.” This delay has only heightened community frustration. “A strike cannot be regarded as more important than a patient’s life,” Dr Malan asserted.
Sister Elfrieda Joubert, head of the clinic, declined to comment on the situation when approached for a statement. Meanwhile, Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul acknowledged the gravity of the crisis and pledged to investigate the matter further, though he did not provide information about interim plans for managing emergencies during the nursing staff strike.
Mandisa Mereeotlhe, spokesperson for the provincial department of health, assured that the crisis was receiving attention. "The chief director of district health services, Ms Kiti, and the district director, Mr Grootboom, are personally investigating this matter and are currently in consultation with all relevant stakeholders,” she explained.
The ongoing dispute over overtime payments continues to exacerbate the situation for nursing staff. Dimpo Disipi, secretary of the nurses’ union Denosa in the Northern Cape, expressed sympathy for Sarah Maki’s family but emphasized that the health department must be held accountable for the loss of life, not the clinic staff. “The clinic is classified as a primary healthcare facility and any work after 4pm counts as overtime. The budget for overtime has been cut by 50%, and our talks with the department started as early as July, but have come to nothing,” he said.
As the Maki family mourns their loss, the tragedy underscores a dire need for immediate reforms within the healthcare system in Sutherland. Without urgent action, more families could face similar heartache in their time of need. With deepening fears of inadequate medical services, the community awaits answers and accountability from both health officials and the government.
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