FEDUSA Condemns Violent Behaviour towards Women

6 August 2018

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the violent behaviour by a group of men against a female medical practitioner Dr Masego Sethlodi at Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp on Wednesday evening.

The abusive and aggressive behaviour towards Dr Sethlodi happened on the same day, the 1 August 2018, officially known as National Women’s Month which also saw thousands of women march across the country against gender based violence; and a similar march by the ANC Women’s League that culminated in an address by League President and Minister of Women and Children Bathabile Dlamini at the Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg.

A video posted on social media by Dr Sethlodi shows security guards restraining three men from physically assaulting her with one of them shouting in isiZulu: “Shut up, I don’t speak to women, who do you think you are?” and threating to harm her.

One of the men was apparently the father of a three-year old boy who had been admitted to the Leratong Hospital Trauma and Emergency Unit following a head injury sustained in a car accident.

A doctor had then ordered a scan before sending the boy back to emergency to wait for the results which were delayed. It is believed it was then that the father started behaving violently and demanding that his son be released so that he could take him to another health facility.

The Hospital pointed out it could not release him before the mandatory 24-hour observation period but the father was adamant that he wanted his son out of Leratong and was eventually issued with a Refusal of Health Treatment and left the hospital with his son. Dr Sethlodi doesn’t feel safe following the incident, fearing that the men might come back and harm her. Security has been beefed-up at the unit.

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FEDUSA is the largest politically non-aligned trade union federation in South Africa and represents a diverse membership from a variety of sectors in industry.  See www.fedusa.org.za for more information.

For interviews please contact:

Dennis George

FEDUSA General Secretary

084 805 1529

Dorothy Ndhlovu

FEDUSA Vice President Social Justice Committee and Gender

083 800 5524

Brenda Modise

FEDUSA Social Policy Officer

073 531 5339

Issued by:

Frank Nxumalo

FEDUSA Media and Research Officer

072 637 8096