Patients with fractures admitted to Bophelong Hospital in Mahikeng, North West, face repeated surgical postponements without proper consultation or reasonable explanation. One patient, a DA councillor in Tswaing Local Municipality, Kagiso Mangwejane, tells Health-e News that he waited two weeks for an operation when he was admitted to the hospital for a fractured femur in May.
Despite multiple scheduled surgeries, his operation was postponed six times, most recently due to the unavailability of theatre nurses. His surgery was eventually done at the beginning of June, and he’s currently recovering at home.
“What is happening at Bophelong Provincial Hospital is a healthcare disaster; the hospital is violating its constitutional mandate to provide timely and adequate care,” he says.
Mangwejane says the prolonged immobilisation left him in constant pain and unable to fulfil his responsibilities as a public servant and father. He adds that his was not an isolated case, and that numerous other patients faced similar delays.
“Some patients were discharged without being treated and instructed to wait for a call when operating theatre space becomes available. What’s happening here is more than just poor planning – it’s institutional neglect,” he says. “The system is broken. There are chronic staff shortages, internal mismanagement and a complete lack of accountability.”
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There have been reports of surgeries being postponed up to five consecutive times. Some patients had to fast from 10pm the previous night in preparation for the procedure, only to be informed in the morning that the surgery had been cancelled due to a shortage of available nurses for the theatre.
Another patient, who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing victimisation, shared a similar experience.
“I was there for a month. They operated on one leg, but the other one, which was fractured, wasn’t operated on for another week, as they said they didn’t have the right tools. It’s frustrating; we need urgent action because we deserve better. The health and dignity of ours cannot be compromised any longer,” he says.
Another patient says: “I was admitted on 28 April, I had a broken leg, dislocated feet and a back injury. It was really disheartening to be told surgery had to be postponed. This is a direct violation of the right to healthcare enshrined in our constitution.” His operation was only done on 7 June.
“This situation is not only emotionally distressing, but also medically dangerous. Patients are suffering unnecessarily, while their conditions worsen. It is clear that Bophelong Hospital is struggling with severe staff shortages, poor planning, and a breakdown of internal systems. This points to a broader crisis in our provincial healthcare system – one that is failing the very people it is meant to serve,” says Magwejane.
Plans to recruit more staff
North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tshegofatso Mothibedi, admits that there is a shortage of nurses at the hospital, saying the department is finalising the process to recruit nurses to stabilise the operating theatre by 30 June 2025.
“Yes, some surgeries have been postponed multiple times over the past month due to a shortage of staff. Not all surgeries could be performed, hence some postponements. This is due to the retirements as well as resignations for greener pastures and unexpected sick leaves.”
Mothibedi says an average of 45 operations scheduled for April and May 2025 were cancelled. He says if operations are not an emergency, the waiting time is around six weeks.
In addition to recruiting more nurses, the department says it will increase theatre times to manage the backlog.
“It is not standard procedure for patients to be released without being operated on; however, emergency cases are prioritised within the hospital. Those found not to be of emergency by nature would be discharged following stabilisation and will be booked for an elective surgery. Those that need emergency operations that cannot be done internally are referred to other hospitals within the province,” said Mothibedi. – Health-e News
