Desperate plight of unclaimed patients

A CHRONICALLY ill patient at a Vincent hospital who died without any family claiming her will likely receive a pauper’s burial.

Mncedisi Nansel, a manager at the New Haven Chronic Sick Hospital, said Bulelwa Peter, 42, died on January 5.

Peter was one of five patients transferred from Nompumelelo Hospital in Peddie to the New Haven hospital more than two years ago.

The five patients have not had a single visitor since their arrival.

Peter, who was transferred on February 24 2012, was unable to talk and staff believed her grandmother of 92 used to take care of her in Peddie before she was admitted to hospital.

She was the only one of five patients with an ID book.

In a December advertisement placed by the department of health, an appeal was made to friends or family of the five to come forward and claim them.

The Daily Dispatch subsequently wrote a report on the plight of the five.

“None of them has been identified after the article and advert,” Nansel said.

“A woman had called shortly after the advert saying she had a cousin who was called Bulelwa Peter, but she was reluctant to leave her details or identify herself and she never came to the hospital as arranged.

“We’ve also approached Nompumelelo Hospital and asked them to check their records for these patients, but they did not come up with anything.”

Nansel said if anyone did come forward they would not have to pay the funeral costs.

“This is to avoid her body going unclaimed and her being buried as a pauper. The body is kept for three weeks before being classified as unclaimed.

“She was loved and surrounded by love here at New Haven, but we don’t make up for their family and this is why we appeal to the community for anyone who may know them,” Nansel said.

The other four patients are:

• Hilda Khalaka, thought to be in her 50s, who was transferred on January 24 2012;

Gugile Sam, presumed to be in his 60s, who was transferred on February 9 2011. Sam, who is fluent in Afrikaans, told hospital staff he thinks he grew up in Cookhouse. He said he was assaulted while working on the mines and severe head injuries resulted in epileptic fits;

Shaluza Tokwe, also thought to be in his 60s, was transferred on January 24 2012. He tells staff he is from a township in Port Elizabeth, although he sometimes changes the location; and

Thulimani William was transferred on January 24 2012. He does not talk and may be in his 70s.

“Home affairs is in the process of taking and matching their fingerprints. If they die then they will also be unidentified and unclaimed with out any IDs,” Nansel said.

Buffalo City Metro carries the costs of pauper’s funerals.

Anyone who has information on the patients is asked to contact Nansel on (043)726-3225 or 082-692-0520 or visit the hospital at 12 Cavendish Road, Vincent, East London. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za