Pietermaritzburg - The high court on Tuesday granted an order for the Health Department to make an interim payment of R193 932 for past expenses incurred by a mother whose child is admittedly severely handicapped due to negligence by state hospital staff.
In October 2015 the KZN MEC for Health agreed that the department was liable to pay 100% of any damages proved by Busisiwe Mngoma, of the Umbumbulu area, on behalf of her daughter, Sbongakonke Asanda Mngoma.
The child, who was born at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital on August 4, 2012, is severely mentally and physically handicapped.
Mngoma had instituted a claim totaling more than R19 million against the department, but the amount she will eventually be paid out will be determined in future proceedings.
In the meantime, Mngoma’s lawyers submitted an interim claim for past medical and caregiver expenses to the Health Department (accompanied by invoices) but said this was not paid, forcing them to approach the high court.
The court granted the order and ordered the Health Department to pay the costs of Tuesday's proceedings.
