The two female pedestrians who survived with severe injuries after a recent fatal accident in Bloemfontein, are among the numerous awaiting orthopaedic surgery at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein. The third pedestrian, Adelina Motsamai, reportedly succumbed to her injuries two days after the trio were admitted for medical treatment.
One of the two survivors, Kgomotso Modiakgotla, sustained injuries that include fractures to the upper leg and thigh, as well as head injuries.
A 24-year-old male driver reportedly crashed into the three women from behind on 24 January at about 17:30. It is reported that all the victims were on foot, planning to board a taxi, when the speeding motorist allegedly crashed them. The two survivors are reportedly in stable condition while waiting to undergo surgery.
According to the Free State Department of Health, there are 46 patients on the waiting list to undergo surgeries, blaming a backlog as the delay to the performing of elective surgeries.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, said the hospital has started performing surgeries to wipeout the backlog.
“The reason for this backlog is that orthopaedic marathons were not done during the weekends of 20 to 21 January, and 27 to 28 January. The cases are prioritised according to their severity. The orthopaedic surgeries aimed at reducing the backlog resumed on 3 February and will occur on weekends in addition to the normal slate done during the week,” said Mvambi.
He said surgeries were reduced to the current number of 46 from 55, which was the number during January this year. The backlog in the province stood at 976 by November last year.
