Hanged patient was on trial for murder

A patient on trial for murder has died at the Komani Psychiatric Hospital after he allegedly took his own life.

The Eastern Cape department of health this week said 35-year-old Dumisa Madonono was found hanging from a bed sheet in one of the hospital’s single wards.

Department spokesman Siyanda Manana said: “He was found hanging by nurses on Tuesday morning at 5am. At the time of his discovery the nurses were conducting rounds. They had earlier conducted rounds at 3am and found him fine.”

Manana continued: “The patient used a bed sheet to hang himself on the window of the ward which is located behind a wardrobe.”

Manana said there was no negligence on the side of the hospital and foul play was not suspected.

Madonono, from Whittlesea, was arrested for murder and referred to the hospital by the Whittlesea Magistrate’s Court for mental evaluation as part of the trial.

“He was admitted in our facility on October 31 2014,” said Manana.

Police said Madonono had previously escaped from the hospital.

Komani police spokeswoman Captain Namhla Mdleleni said they were investigating Madonono’s death.

Hospital staff have in the past described conditions at the facility as “hell, filthy and extremely dangerous”.

The Dispatch reported on the death of 53-year-old Steven Mbuqe who was found dead with severe head injuries at the hospital in 2011.

Soon afterwards reports emerged of workers alleging human rights violations, including patients roaming around naked while being placed on soup diets, a shortage of beds and a dysfunctional laundry. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za