A 35-year-old woman burnt to death in a psychiatric ward at George Mukhari Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa on Monday.
According to the Gauteng Department of Health, the woman was admitted to a psychiatric ward on Thursday. “She was placed in a seclusion room on Monday, as part of her prescribed treatment. At around 18:35 a small fire broke out in the seclusion room. Immediate actions were taken to safeguard the safety and well-being of patients. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by the fire brigade, but unfortunately, the patient in the seclusion room sustained fatal injuries,” spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said.
He said 17 other patients were rescued and moved to other wards. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
“The department wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the patient’s family as they mourn the sudden passing of their daughter. The victim’s family and the other patients who survived would receive counselling.”
Police are investigating the incident.