Hospital staffer seeks justice after assault

A Cecilia Makiwane Hospital junior staffer, who was severely assaulted by his supervisor, feels let down by the health department as the man who broke his jaws was only suspended for a month.

Wandile Hoza, 54, of King William’s Town, was assaulted by his then supervisor Sicelo Vuso while on duty on May 25, after he had gone to the bank 30 minutes before his lunch break.

Hoza opened a criminal case and Vuso was found guilty, but received a five-year suspended sentence and a R12000 fine by the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on October 12.

Now Hoza feels health authorities have let him down, saying Vuso was only suspended for a month and was not remorseful.

Hoza, who has worked at the Mdantsane facility for 30 years, said hospital management were dragging their feet in finalising the case. He said the first internal hearing was only in August – more than two months after the assault.

“I want him to be suspended then to be fired.

“At the internal hearing they just asked me what had happened. I told them the truth and I never heard from them again,” he said.

However, Vuso said he had apologised on several occasions but Hoza “refuses to accept” his apology. “I have asked for forgiveness many times. I don’t know what to do anymore. He is being unfair now,” said Vuso.

“I am waiting for the outcomes of the internal hearing. I might lose my job. I know what I did was wrong but I was fined and I apologised,” he said.

Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “The employee must raise the issue with the immediate supervisor. If an employee has a problem at work, they have to exhaust internal channels. Going public may jeopardize his/ her case.”

Hoza said it took the hospital months to organise a hearing and it only convened for one day.

“It’s been months now without any word from them.”