Zenizole Vena: Ombudsman refers Motherwell nurses to SANC

The investigation found that Sister Ntlanjeni and Sister Ndongeni turned away a rape victim at the clinic and told her to walk 2 kilometres to the local police station.

Eastern Cape teenager Zenizole Vena later died at the Motherwell police station while waiting for help.

The 15-year-old girl was held hostage and gang-raped in September 2022.

According to the report, the teen managed to escape and met an elderly woman who took her to the clinic.

However, the nurses refused to attend to her citing fear of tampering with evidence.

FINDINGS

Briefing the media in Pretoria on Tuesday, Ombudsman Professor Taole Mokoena said the nurses did not honour their pledges as healthcare workers.

"The evidence collected confirms that the nurses at Motherwell Clinic failed to provide the victim with medical services when she presented herself at the clinic. It is also confirmed that the nurses did not examine the victim to confirm if indeed

she had been raped.

"Both nurses informed an elderly woman and the victim that the nurses 'do not touch rape victims to avoid tampering with evidence'. The conduct of both nurses was in violation of the victim's constitutional rights."

Mokoena said no disciplinary action was instituted against the nurses regarding their misconduct, and no apology was issued by the Eastern Cape Health Department to the Vena family.

"It was expected of both nurses to prioritise the victim by taking history to determine whether she requires referral to the doctor, it is also confirmed that the nurses failed to arrange transport for Vena to take her to the next level of care. 

"In so doing, the nurses failed to ensure that Vena was attended to in a manner that was consistent with the nature and severity of her health condition at the clinic," he added.

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The Ombudsman has recommended that the District Manager of the Nelson Mandela Bay Department of Health to institute a disciplinary inquiry, within one month, against Ntlanjeni for the failure to holistically assess Vena, and to use proper channels of referral within the district.

"Her failure to advocate on behalf of the patient placed the life of Vena in danger. Ntlanjeni also used her personal diary to record the vital data observations of Ms. Z Vena, instead of the appropriate Patient Administration Record (PAR). 

"There was no evidence to indicate that Vena was consulted at the Motherwell NU 11 Clinic on 21 September 2022, as her name was not registered anywhere."

Her colleague, Ndongeni, will need to account for her failure to advocate for Vena.

"During the interview, she indicated that she heard the conversation between Ntlanjeni and Vena but failed to intervene when Ntlanjeni was instructing Vena and Ntantiso to go to the MPS CSC."

Mokoena said both healthcare givers failed honour their nursing pledges.

"As a PN registered with the South African Nursing Council, she had the responsibility to take the total health of Vena into her consideration and maintain the utmost respect for human life as a promise made freely and upon her honor during her nursing pledge.

"Referral of the two nurses to the South African Nursing Council for investigation regarding professional misconduct."

Three juvenile suspects have been arrested for the rape of the teenager.

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