A grieving family is demanding answers after 25-year-old medical intern Alulutho Mazwi collapsed and died while on duty at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in uMlazi, south of Durban.
Mazwi, who had reportedly been unwell, was allegedly instructed by a supervisor to continue working despite his condition. It’s believed he fainted twice before tragically passing away on Monday, as first reported by Sowetan Live.
His death has sparked outrage, with the Public Servants Association (PSA) calling out KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Health for what they describe as inhumane working conditions and unchecked abuse of junior medical staff.
PSA’s provincial manager Mlungisi Ndlovu said the situation is dire: ‘Interns in KwaZulu-Natal are being mistreated, overworked, and silenced. This is not an isolated incident. It’s a toxic culture.’
Ndlovu added that the PSA has made multiple appeals to the department but claims their warnings have been ignored.
Claims that Alulutho Mazwi was denied medical leave have become a key focus of an investigation launched by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health following his death while on duty at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi.
Health department spokesperson Nathi Oliphant confirmed that top officials visited the facility and have now ordered an independent probe into the serious accusations surrounding staff treatment and workplace dynamics.
Mazwi’s family revealed that he had been living with diabetes for more than a year, and his condition had worsened in the days leading up to his death. According to his uncle, Vhuani Mazwi, the young doctor had been visibly unwell during a recent visit home to Mthatha and was in no state to travel.
‘He wasn’t fit to drive himself back to KwaZulu-Natal. His mother had to take him. He left his car at home and still insisted on returning to work, even though it was clear he needed rest,’ said the uncle.
He added that Mazwi had allegedly been warned that if he failed to report for duty, he would be forced to redo his current rotation. Despite being scheduled for hospital admission on the very day he died, he reportedly chose to work, fearing the consequences of staying away.
‘He had spoken out about the mistreatment he was facing — not just once, but several times. His complaints weren’t just about the environment; they were about how a specific person was treating him. It was unfair and harsh,’ said his uncle.
The tragedy has thrown a spotlight on the mounting pressure placed on young doctors, many of whom are subjected to punishing hours and toxic hierarchies in the public health sector.
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