20/08/2026
DEPARTMENT CONDEMNS DISTURBING VIDEO OF NURSE ASSAULTING PATIENT AT KING DINUZULU HOSPITAL
19 August 2026
DURBAN: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has noted with serious concern a video circulating on social media depicting a nurse physically assaulting a patient at King Dinuzulu Hospital.
The Department unequivocally condemns this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.
The conduct displayed in the video is completely unacceptable, violates the core values of our healthcare system, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Following the emergence of the video, the Department has acted decisively. The nurse in question will be placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect, pending a full and thorough internal investigation into the matter.
The video appears to show the nurse striking the patient on the face while making inappropriate remarks.
We confirm that we are investigating this specific conduct as a matter of urgency.
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.
Issued by the Department of Health
