The quest for justice continues as Hlengiwe Mbambo, renowned actor Thabo Malema’s wife, moves forward in seeking justice for a botched hysterectomy performed by a gynaecologist. The incident sparked outrage, leading to a protest organized by the Economic Freedom Fighters Women’s League outside the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) offices in Arcadia, Pretoria.
The Botched Operation
In 2022, Hlengiwe Mbambo faced a breast cancer diagnosis. Specialist gynaecologist Dr Kwaw Asante recommended a hysterectomy to induce menopause and remove her womb and ovaries to combat cancer. Unfortunately, complications arose when a ureter, responsible for transporting urine from the kidneys to the bladder, was mistakenly cut during the surgery.
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This error led to urine retention in the kidneys, resulting in a weakened bladder for Mbambo. Constant proximity to a toilet and frequent visits to her urologist became necessary. To compound matters, it was later discovered that the assistant surgeon involved was not registered with the HPCSA.
Pursuing Justice
Mbambo took her case to the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) last year, alleging negligence during the surgery by Dr Asante. Ismaa-iel Bassier, Mbambo’s spokesperson, highlighted the protest as a show of solidarity for her cause. He revealed that negligence occurred under the doctor’s supervision, and further investigation unveiled that the assistant surgeon lacked HPCSA registration and did not have proper consent from Mbambo.
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On January 30th, the HPCSA board was slated to conduct a hearing regarding Dr Asante’s culpability. However, Mbambo was denied access to the proceedings. The hearing, attended by Gauteng Department of Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, concluded with Mbambo being informed that the doctor’s fate would be determined the following Monday.
Bassier emphasized that the peaceful protest aimed to shed light on broader issues, encouraging others to come forward with their complaints. He stressed the recurring problem where women face similar situations, yet their concerns are often overlooked by the HPCSA.