Author: Kathryn Cleary

Rhodes law alumna Michelle du Toit recently launched the Know Your Rights app. Available on the Google Play Store; the app serves as a way for South Africans to better understand the Bill of Rights. The app makes this information available in the 11 official languages, and soon will feature a read-aloud option for easier use. Currently the app is available for free to Android users, while access to iOS users is in the works.

In Makana, many residents are often unsure of how to use public service delivery institutions. To be an active citizen, it is important to know your rights in court, with the local authorities and the municipality – but also your responsibilities. Grocott’s Mail has compiled this list of rights, rules and tips to help you engage better as as citizen with the courts, the police and local government. The Courts You have a constitutional right to visit the court and sit in the gallery during a hearing. The only restrictions of this are in cases involving minors (persons under the…

“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” – Mahatma GandhiA possible link between deaths at Tower Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Beaufort and poor maintenance of patients’ physical health would carry serious implications for management, professional body SASOP has warned. Meanwhile, public service watchdog PSAM has called for a thorough investigation of the hospital by the Public Protector. Kathryn Cleary reports. The crisis at Tower Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Beaufort could be a bigger problem than Life Esidimeni, South African Society of Psychiatry (SASOP) President, Professor Bernard Janse van Rensburg, told…

Public service watchdog PSAM has renewed the call for former Tower Hospital psychiatrist Kiran Sukeri to be protected, as concern grows about Life Esidimeni whistleblower, Nomawethu Kunene. Allegations about poor treatment of patients at Tower Hospital in Fort Beaufort should be investigated by the Human Rights Commission, and acted on by the Public Protector, says Public Service Accountability Monitor Director Jay Kruuse. An exposé in City Press and Rapport on 4 March 2018 presented shocking images of an isolation room at Tower Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Beaufort. Sukeri spoke out about the alleged degrading and inhumane treatment of patients and…

Final score 35-36, Benetton over Kings Update #16 Kings’ Tango Balekile receives a yellow card for a high tackle; 35-36. Five minutes left in the match. Update #15 Kings Berton Klaasen scores, Masixole Banda clears the kick; 35-36 Update #14 No change in score, 10 minutes left in the match Update #13 Penalty for Benetton, as Marty Banks converts; 28-36 Update #12 Kings awarded penalty try after a number of penalties in the Benetton red zone, Benetton player Frederico Ruzza received a yellow card for collapsing the maul; 28-33 Update #11 Benetton’s Braam Steyn scores, Marty Banks clears the kick;…

Abuse of patients’ rights and failure to execute duty of care are some of the findings of the professional body that investigated allegations about Tower Psychiatric Hospital. Meanwhile, the Fort Beaufort facility’s CEO strongly denies claims of a cover-up and says the whistleblower was motivated by resentment. Kathryn Cleary reports The  South African Society of Psychiatry (SASOP) has presented the  Department of Health with recommendations for improved care at Tower Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Beaufort, after the professional body’s investigations confirmed human rights violations. The 15 recommendations concern policy and procedure, food and clothing, physical health of patients, death registration…

Instances of alleged abuse of patients’ rights and failure to execute duty of care within the framework of the South African Constitution were some of the main findings by the South African Society of Psychiatry (SASOP) post their recent visit at the contentious Tower Hospital. The report prepared by SASOP follows on the complaints received from Dr Kiran Sukeri, a sessional psychiatrist at the hospital and unrecorded death of patients. SASOP together with representatives of its SASOP Eastern Cape structure, the Treatment Action Campaign, and members of the South African Federation of Mental Health participated in a visit to the…

The details of the disclosure should be investigated – not the person who made the disclosure.Public service watchdog PSAM has called on the Health Department to support whistleblowers with patients’ interests at heart. Meanwhile, claims have emerged of a cover-up at Tower Psychiatric Hospital, after media reports of alleged poor treatment of patients. Kathryn Cleary reports. The Department of Health must uphold the Protected Disclosures Act, the Public Service Accountability Monitor says. PSAM Director Jay Kruuse was commenting following the recent Tower Psychiatric Hospital exposé and subsequent resignation of whistleblower, psychiatrist Kiran Sukeri. A report in City Press and Rapport…

On 7 March, citizens from Grahamstown East took part in an exciting event at BB Zondani Hall in Fingo Village. The South African Police Service (SAPS) in conjunction with Makana Municipality launched the community street committees initiative as a way to improve safety and reduce crime. The initiative serves as a way to empower citizens and encourage visible policing within communities that suffer from high crime rates. Reverend Gxaleka opened the event by emphasising the importance of building relationships in the community. “We must build relationships so we can speak with one voice,” he said. Speaking to the issue of…

Following an announcement by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Wednesday, 7 March, confirming five cases of rabies in humans nationally since December 2017, Grocott’s Mail investigated the recent history of rabies in Grahamstown. A quick investigation revealed positive news – for both Grahamstown’s two and four-legged residents! Local State Vet, Dr Gabriel Mutero stated that Grahamstown was rabies-free. “We have not had any cases in 6 or 7 years, and even that was not in Grahamstown but on one of the outlying farms,” Mutero said. Department of Health Spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, also confirmed that there had been no recent…