KIMBERLEY – The South African Human Rights Commission has found systemic human rights violations at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital, citing conditions that breach constitutional rights to dignity, safety and life.
The final report, released by the commission’s Northern Cape provincial office, follows monitoring visits conducted in early 2024. It describes a facility suffering from infrastructural decay and operational failure.
The hospital, originally designed as a state-of-the-art psychiatric facility, has become uninhabitable in several areas. This has forced the closure of core services including the pharmacy, laundry and mortuary.
Only two wards remain operational due to extensive building defects. Investigators found collapsing ceilings, peeling walls and broken windows covered with cardboard. Critical security systems, including CCTV, biometric access controls and emergency alarms, have been non-functional for more than two years.
The report notes that the hospital is using only 153 of its 287 commissioned beds. This shortage has resulted in state patients – individuals ordered by courts to receive psychiatric treatment – being detained in correctional facilities, a violation of the Mental Health Care Act.
The commission found that failed climate control systems expose patients to extreme heat in summer and inadequate heating in winter. These conditions increase the risk of hyperthermia and other health complications.
In July 2024, the commission received reports of a patient death potentially linked to conditions at the facility. This prompted a joint investigation with the Office of the Health Ombud to examine clinical standards and patient safety.
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The facility’s mortuary ceased operations in October 2023 following a power outage. Since then, bodies have been outsourced to private mortuaries, placing additional burden on families.
The commission attributes these deficiencies to the Northern Cape Department of Health. A central issue is the centralisation of procurement functions, which has left hospital management unable to perform basic maintenance or hold contractors accountable.
The report states that hospital management cannot monitor service providers or hold them accountable for poor or non-performance. Some contractors have arrived at the facility without management’s prior knowledge.
The commission concluded that the department has breached its duty to safeguard the rights of mental health users. The report issues binding recommendations aimed at addressing infrastructural failures, decentralising procurement and ensuring the facility meets national health standards.
The MEC for Health in the Northern Cape acknowledged the findings during meetings with the commission. However, the commission noted that as of September 2024, very little had been done to improve conditions at the facility.
The commission has committed to monitoring the implementation of its recommendations.
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