AN abusive surgeon made life a living hell for nursing staff assisting him at a private hospital in Bloemfontein, using deeply offensive language, including racial and vulgar insults, against them.

Dr Stephen Paul Grobler’s reign of terror at Netcare Universitas Hospital was exposed after Tilana Alida Louw, employed as a theatre manager at the health facility, took legal action against him for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She also sued Netcare for failing to protect her and take action against the surgeon.

Louw told the Free State High Court that Dr Grobler, with the intent to injure her, continually verbally abused her for period spanning a decade.

She instituted legal action on 1 July 2016.

However, following Dr Grobler’s sudden death in June 2022, Louw entered into a confidential settlement agreement with the executor of his estate.

She then pursued her case against Netcare at the High Court in Bloemfontein.

In a ruling handed down this month, Judge Ilsa van Rhyn ordered the hospital to pay her R300 000 for damages, past and future medical expenses, and to settle part of her costs on a punitive scale.

Louw, who graduated with a nursing diploma from the University of the Free State in 1984, was appointed as a surgical theatre manager at the hospital in 2005.

Her responsibilities included overseeing operating theatres, managing theatre staff and monitoring patient care.

At the time she assumed the role, Louw was warned by the then hospital manager and others that Dr Grobler had an “aggressive type personality”.

And before long she experienced first-hand his temper tantrums.

In her claim, Louw said he had verbally abused her continually, hurling profanities, insults, using blasphemous language and obscenities at her in the presence of other operating theatre staff and even members of the public.

The surgeon called her a “p*es”, “wit k*ffirmeid”, “k*nt” and “f*kken b*tch” and also threatened to give her a “p*esklap” or “bliksem” her.

Louw said Netcare had failed act against Dr Grobler, even though it was common knowledge that he abused her and other theatre staff.

She claimed she and other personnel were “not allowed” to lay complaints against the surgeon because he was a “so-called money-spinner” for the hospital.

Louw alleged that Netcare had failed in its legal duty to create a work environment free from verbal abuse and intimidation and to take reasonable care of her safety and protect her from psychological harm.

As a result, she was humiliated, degraded and suffered shock, anguish, fear and anxiety.

She experienced post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Louw wanted to be compensated for this and also wanted Netcare to publish a written apology in a local newspaper.

The hospital, however, denied that it had breached its duty and said it had taken action against Dr Grobler.

After Louw and her witness, labour law expert Professor Halton Cheadle, testified, Netcare offered to pay her for damages and to apologise.

Louw accepted the financial offer, but she was not happy with the wording of the apology and the scale of costs tendered.

Judge van Rhyn said Netcare’s offer of damages during the trial had been made after Louw had endured years of abuse at the hands of Dr Grobler and eight years of litigation.

“I also agree with argument on behalf of the plaintiff that Netcare evidently allowed its employees to be abused by Dr Grobler for its own financial interests,” she said.

“Netcare was acquainted with Dr Grobler’s disgusting behaviour even prior to her (Louw’s) appointment as the unit manager.” – Staff Reporter

THE African Congress for Transformation (ACT) has expelled 11 of its members in the Free State for allegedly engaging in divisive or disruptive actions.

The ousted individuals were named as Rankele Lawrence Msinto, Mokone Rantshaila, Tshidi Senoge, Tsietsi Sethabela, Iris Mogamise, Maureen Moopoloa, Mapaseka Nkoane, Motlalepule Makoloane, Tatum de Pearce, Rosa Gcantsane and Tiisetso Khaalo.

In a statement released by ACT Free State provincial secretary Kgaketla Mokoena, the 11 were accused of engaging in actions that were detrimental to the collective goals and aspirations of the party.

The media release did not specify what exactly the members did to warrant the expulsion.

“These violations are intolerable and contradict the very foundation of our party’s principles,” Mokoena said.

The ACT claimed the expelled members had a known history of divisive and disruptive behaviour.

“The expelled members have a known history of creating divisions and disruptions within the ANC and trade unions,” Mokoena said.

“Such actions contradict the mission of advancing the liberation of the African child.

“Their tendency to create divisions and exhibit disloyalty to any organisation they join undermines this mission and will likely persist even if they align with other groups after being expelled from ACT.”

The ACT was founded in August last year by former ANC secretary general Ace Magashule.

This followed his own expulsion from the ANC for misconduct and other breaches of party rules while he also faced charges of corruption in a criminal case.

The once-influential Magashule is on trial over the alleged misappropriation of money from a government contract worth millions of rand when he was the premier of the Free State province before his rise to the top administrative position in the ANC.

He was suspended as secretary-general in 2021 after he was charged with multiple counts of corruption, money laundering and fraud.

Magashule’s new party contested in South Africa’s recent general elections but could not secure a single seat in the 400-member National Assembly after only garnering 18 354 votes or a 0.11 percent share of the vote across the country.

The ACT’s best performance was in the Free State where it recived 1.83 percent of the vote to earn one seat in the provincial legislature. – Staff Reporter

THABO Bester’s lawyers have complained they are finding it difficult to consult with the convicted rapist and murderer due to restrictions at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria where he is being held pending trial.

His newly appointed defence advocate, Lerato Moela, says his client’s treatment at the prison is affecting him mentally.

Bester, who escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in May 2022, appeared in the Free State High Court on Wednesday together with his co-accused in a case in which they face 30 counts of fraud, corruption, violating a corpse and aiding and abetting a prisoner escape.

“It is difficult to consult with our client, and he is treated as if he is already guilty,” Moela told the court.

“His treatment at the prison is affecting him mentally. The case will be affected or delayed if Bester is not mentally stable.”

Moela asked the court for permission to consult his client in the court cells, saying prison officials had made it difficult for him to speak to Bester.

“Because of the challenges we have been having, each and every time we request a consultation we are given a maximum of two hours and in those two hours we must garner the information, write notes and under difficult circumstances,” the lawyer said.

This is not the first time that Bester’s legal representatives have complained about correctional services officials not giving them enough time to meet their client.

Moela joins a long line of lawyers who have come and gone as his legal representatives, the most recent being Mohammed Seedat who withdrew from the case in June citing logistic problems.

Other lawyers, including advocates Dali Mpofu and Zandile Mshololo, have also withdrawn from representing Bester since he was re-apprehended in April 2023.

“It seems to me at this stage that the matter is not (ready) to proceed to trial,” Judge Cagney Musi said before postponing the pre-trial proceedings on Bester’s prison escape to next week after the lawyer representing two of the accused dropped the case.

The lawyer for Senohe Matsoara and Tieho Makhotsa, the third and sixth accused, withdrew from the matter because he had not been paid

The judge said the two accused must find out whether they are eligible for free legal representation.

“I am minded and inclined to give them an opportunity to apply to Legal Aid South Africa to appoint a legal representative on their behalf if they qualify. That postponement will be very short,” Judge Musi said.

State prosecutor Amanda Bester expressed her frustration with the delays in the pre-trial proceedings.

“We are ready for trial and I think the other accused are ready as well,” she said.

Of the eight accused, Bester, Nandipha Magudumana and Xanda Moyo remain in custody while the rest are out on bail of R10 000 each.

The case will be back in the High Court in Bloemfontein on 31 July. – Staff Reporter

THE Department of Employment and Labour closed down Thato Secondary School in Botshabelo following an inspection that deemed the school unsafe for learners and employees.

The inspectors found that the school had unsafe electrical installations, mobile classrooms that were not stable on the ground and broken ablution facilities.

These findings pose imminent danger and possible injury or death to learners and employees, the department said in a statement.

The latest prohibition is the third issued to the Department of Education over the last three years.

In 2021, Thato Secondary School was found to be non-compliant with some provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after inspectors discovered that some classrooms were not in a condition to be occupied due to cracks on the walls as well as falling ceiling and light fittings.

A follow-up inspection conducted last year determined that some of the classrooms were not safe for occupation as they were in a dilapidated condition and posed a safety hazard.

To remedy this, the Department of Education bought mobile classes which were being used as temporary classrooms.

The Department of Employment and Labour’s Free State provincial chief inspector Manelisi Luxande said the continued disregard for occupational health and safety regulations at the school was a cause for concern.

“This is compounded by the fact that through such blatant disregard of safety issues, there is inevitable harm and fatalities against the occupants of the school,” Luxande said.

“We cannot gamble with lives of the learners and educators by permitting the school to operate under such glaring occupational safety issues.”

The school was to remain closed until the Department of Education adequately implemented corrective measures to the findings as determined by the inspectors.

The Free Stater’s  efforts to get a comment from the provincial education department were not successful. – Staff Reporter

PREMIER MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae has condemned surge in gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the Free State.

In the latest case to rock the province, the body of Disebo Mosupa was on Friday found buried in a used grave at a cemetery in Welkom four days after she was reported missing.

Two men were arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of the 30-year-old woman, an acting youth development officer at Matjhabeng Local Municipality.

“We must take a bold stand and seek decisive action to curb the heinous crimes of GBVF”, Letsoha-Mathae said during her visit to the family of the late Mosupa in Welkom on Tuesday.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our province is safe for all its citizens, particularly women and children.”

The sequence of events leading to Mosupa’s disappearance began last Friday when she was last seen by her relatives.

Police provincial spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng said Mosupa’s father raised the alarm after finding her home deserted.

“Mosupa was reported missing at Welkom police station after her father visited her place of residence on July 14 and she was not there, all the doors were locked,” he said.

“The following day, the father went back to the house and found the doors open and the house ransacked. She was nowhere to be found.”

The search effort intensified following her official missing person report on 15 July, with community and relatives rallying alongside law enforcement.

The discovery of her body brought a devastating conclusion to the hopes for her safe return, leaving the community reeling.

Meanwhile, the MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, on Wednesday met with the women’s pressure group Buang Basadi to address the rising cases of GBVF in the Free State.

The organization highlighted a significant increase in such cases since 2018.

Mbalula said GBVF required a multi-faceted approach.

“Schools are crucial in shaping attitudes and behaviours from an early age, helping to mould future generations who respect women’s rights and dignity,” he said.

“I have requested officials to partner with stakeholders in the education sector to strengthen efforts in fostering a culture of gender equality and respect.”

Mbalula also emphasised that religious and traditional authorities had a crucial role to play in promoting women’s safety and empowerment.

“Working with these institutions is essential to dismantle patriarchy,” he said.

“Civil society organizations like Buang Basadi are crucial in raising awareness and we are ready to support and collaborate with you.

“Let’s seize this opportunity to forge a stronger partnership and build a future where every woman and girl lives freely.” – Staff Reporter