Poor Service, and Neglect at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital - Oncology Department and emergency services

The Failing Healthcare at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital- Rustenburg Oncology Unit

It is with a heavy heart that I write about the pain, neglect, and emotional distress my father has endured at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital in Rustenburg. My father, a man who spent his life working, paying taxes, and contributing to this country, is now being failed by the very system that was meant to care for him in his time of need.

In 2018, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a moment that changed our lives forever. Like any family facing such devastating news, we placed our trust in the hospital’s oncology unit, believing that they would follow the correct medical procedures to monitor and manage his condition. However, over the years, that trust has been shattered.

Proper cancer care requires consistent monitoring through regular blood tests, PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) screenings, MRI and CT scans, biopsies, and specialist reviews—all essential to track the progression of the disease and adjust treatment accordingly. Instead, my father was only given pills and injections with no proper follow-up. Every time we asked about blood tests or scans, we were met with rude, dismissive responses, as if we were a burden for expecting the most basic standard of care.

In 2023, his condition worsened significantly. He was in unbearable pain, weak, and struggling daily. We rushed him to the hospital repeatedly, desperate for help, only to be met with the same neglect. His medical file was always missing. His pain was ignored. His suffering dismissed. Each time, they would hand him Panado—a painkiller that does nothing for cancer-related pain—and insist that his condition was "not related to cancer," without conducting a single test to verify this.

It was only when we decided to seek help from a private oncologist that we finally got answers. The doctor ran the necessary tests immediately and discovered that my father’s prostate had continued to grow, a clear sign that his cancer was progressing unchecked. What shocked and angered us the most was that the oncologist was deeply concerned about the lack of scans and proper monitoring at the public hospital. They had simply been giving him medication without any attempt to assess whether it was working.

Every time we return to Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital, we brace ourselves for the same cruel cycle; waiting for hours while they “search” for his missing file, watching my father struggle in pain, pleading with indifferent staff who show no urgency, and leaving once again with no real help.** It is utterly heartbreaking to witness a man who once took care of his family now being treated as if his life does not matter.

At this point, we feel completely lost and helpless. We need advice on what steps we can take to protect our father and ensure he receives the medical care he deserves.Is there legal action we can take? Are there any organizations or authorities we can turn to for intervention? We cannot stand by and watch him suffer like this any longer.

If anyone can guide us on how to fight for his right to proper medical treatment, please help us. No family should have to go through this pain, and no patient should be treated with such neglect. So many other incidents have happened that I did no mention hear, to protect my father's dignity.

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely K.Molefinyane