'Shattered' Durban family mourns intern doctor
The family of a Durban-based medical intern who died after allegedly being forced to work while ill, says they are shattered by his death.
Dr Alulutho Mazwi was based at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital.
It’s understood he had recently been diagnosed with diabetes.
Alulutho passed away last Monday after collapsing the previous day.
According to the Public Servants Association, he was instructed by a supervising consultant to continue working.
His uncle, Vumani Mazwi, says his nephew previously missed several family ceremonies, including funerals, because he was at work.
READ: Motsoaledi calls for probe into death of Mshiyeni intern
He says that when Alulutho was called back to work the week before his death, they could tell he was unwell.
Out of concern, his mother drove him from the Eastern Cape to Durban.
"He's the only child of his mother and father. At 25, only starting his professional career and this happened. I'm short of words, we are really devastated, this is a blow."
Mazwi says his nephew had big dreams.
"He's always been an ambitious man. One of those brilliant children. He was not a talkative person but he set his sights very high, at some point he wanted to be an engineer."
He says they family is still discussing the next steps.
"I don't know what we are going to do. We are still engaging as a family, whether we are going to take a legal route, we are sensing an element of negligence on the side of the institution. I would've thought in our time of a proactive and democratic government would've come to visit the family and take the responsibility, and say they dropped the ball."
The KZN Department of Health says an independent investigation has been launched, while Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has also called for an urgent probe into the circumstances leading to the intern’s death.
