The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) supports the nurse featured in a controversial viral video recorded by a Zimbabwean patient at Halfway House Clinic in Midrand on Thursday, 16 January.
According to YNITU’s media statement released on Friday, the widely shared video was carefully cropped to show only part of an hour-long confrontation.
The union argued that despite the heated exchange, the patient’s constitutional right to healthcare services was not denied. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
The Nurses in South Africa through their vigorous training understands that section 27 of the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to have access to health care services.
</blockquote>
The statement states that the nurse’s reaction was prompted by being “provoked” by the patient. The union said:
<blockquote>
She reported this incident to her superior with no assistance and had no choice but to stand firm and defend herself.
</blockquote>
According to YNITU, the incident unfolded around 1 PM when the nurse, who had just completed her morning patient roster, was called back from lunch by her line manager to attend to additional patients.
Among them was a reportedly impatient individual demanding priority treatment. The situation escalated when the Zimbabwean patient, described as a regular clinic user with a history of targeting the same nurse, entered the consulting room while filming.
According to the union, witness statements gathered by the union said the patient demanded immediate attention and a referral to see a doctor at another facility, disrupting an ongoing consultation.
YNITU said its investigation revealed that the confrontation turned physical, with the patient allegedly preventing the nurse from leaving the room to seek assistance.
However, the viral video began only after the nurse had managed to exit the room and was speaking with her line manager on the phone.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.citizen.co.za/news/nurses-union-backs-healthcare-worker-in-viral-video-incident-at-midrand-clinic/">The Citizen</a>, YNITU secretary-general Lerato Mthunzi said they understand the presumption of innocence as a legal principle but support the officer as a moral principle.
Mthunzi said the South African health system is strained due to a lack of human and material resources, causing frustration in the community.
She argued that nurses, as frontline workers, often bear the brunt of this public frustration. Mthunzi said the anger directed towards nurses is misplaced, as it is the Department of Health’s responsibility to improve infrastructure and provide resources.
Mthunzi said nurse-to-patient ratios are extremely high, leading to substandard care. She said the nurse involved has pressed charges against the patient for assault.
The patient faces charges from another patient who was forced out of the consulting room during the incident.

Pindula News

A union in South Africa is supporting a nurse in a viral video with a Zimbabwean patient. The video only shows part of the situation. The nurse was provoked but did not deny the patient's right to healthcare. The patient was demanding priority treatment and disrupted the consultation. The situation turned physical, and the nurse pressed charges for assault. The union believes nurses face frustration due to a lack of resources in the health system. Nurses should not be blamed for this. The nurse involved also faced charges from another patient affected by the incident.

South Africa: Union Backs Nurse In Controversial Viral Video With Zimbabwean Patient

A Zimbabwean patient’s encounter with South African nurses sparked widespread debate and outrage after a video went viral on social media, reported <a href="https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zimbabwe-patients-viral-video-sparks-outrage-over-sa-nurses-conduct-watch-breaking/">The South African</a>.
The video was recorded by the Zimbabwean patient at Halfway House Clinic in Midrand on Thursday, 16 January.
In the first part of the video, a nurse is seen speaking on the phone with a colleague, ostensibly to inquire about the transfer letter.
The colleague reportedly responds that she “never saw the patient.” When the nurse relays this message, the patient adamantly counters:
<blockquote>
Yes, she never saw me, she never attended me. I saw her, I saw her. She can just do it now, rather than sitting there, she can just do it now. Can you ask her to do it now?
</blockquote>
The tension escalates as the patient’s camera pans to a second nurse, accused of neglecting to check the patient’s blood pressure.
The nurse claims, “I don’t check BP,” prompting the patient to ask, “What do you do?” The nurse replies, “I sleep, move around, and eat a lot.”
This draws a sharp rebuke from the patient, who comments on the nurse’s weight: “That is why you are fat.” Growing frustrated, the patient says:
<blockquote>
They said she must write me a transfer. She is not… No, I came here what time? I can’t wait anymore. Write me a transfer, let me go to the doctor.
</blockquote>
The nurse, however, refuses, responding defiantly, and aware that the patient was recording the encounter, said:
<blockquote>
I won’t write you a transfer. Shout as much as you want, let everyone hear you. I won’t write you. Take a pic, here, sue me, post me, I will sue the f*** out of you.”
</blockquote>
The video has since ignited a firestorm of reactions online, with many expressing outrage at the nurses’ unprofessional behaviour.
Critics have called for accountability and urged health authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly. However, others argued that the patient was very rude.
There is a history of clashes between Zimbabwean patients and South African medical personnel in South African hospitals.
In August 2022, Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba made controversial comments about Zimbabwean migrants, saying they strained the provincial healthcare system.
In a widely circulated video, she told a Zimbabwean patient at a Bela Bela hospital that South Africa was not running a charity and that migrants were not budgeted for in the healthcare system.
Ramathuba said the healthcare system was meant for the people of Limpopo and that foreign nationals were not part of the budget.
Her comments sparked backlash. The Zimbabwean embassy expressed shock and disbelief, calling for diplomatic engagement to address the issue.
Recent reports suggest that some Zimbabwean women are crossing into South Africa illegally to give birth and register their children as South African citizens to access social grants.
This has led to increased border patrols by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to curb illegal immigration.

A patient from Zimbabwe went to a South African clinic and recorded a video of nurses not doing their job properly. The nurses were rude and refused to help the patient, even saying mean things. The video went viral and many people were angry at how the nurses behaved. Some people think the patient was rude too. There have been other instances of problems between Zimbabwean patients and South African medical workers. The government is now looking into the situation to make sure patients are treated well.

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