The death of a resident of Bishop Lavis near the local Day Care Center has prompted calls for urgent intervention. Residents claim that issues related to alleged mistreatment by security guards and low quality of service at the facility are long-standing concerns.
Community members, in collaboration with the Bishop Lavis Action Community organization, are preparing to hold a picket outside the Bishop Lavis Day Care Center (CDC) on Tuesday. They are demanding explanations regarding the death of Sylvia Abraham and raising broader questions about how patients, especially elderly residents, are treated at this center.
Abraham was brought to the Bishop Lavis CDC shortly after 6 am on September 2 because she was experiencing breathing difficulties. According to community activist Gwendolyn Ellis, this was the second time Abraham had come to the center needing oxygen. Ellis reported that during the previous incident, Abraham received assistance through the facility's 24-hour maternity ward.
However, she claims that on September 2, she was denied entry by security guards because the main facility had not yet opened, and she was later told that the maternity ward did not have oxygen. Abraham passed away before the start of the regular shift at 7 am.
Picket is planned
The Western Cape Department of Health confirmed that an elderly woman fell outside the facility on September 2, but stated that there was no clinical staff present at the time of her arrival. The department expressed sincere condolences to the family and loved ones. It specified that the Bishop Lavis CDC operates from 7 am to 4 pm on weekdays, and the woman reportedly arrived around 6 am.
The department's statement reads: 'When staff started their shift, they found her unconscious in a wheelchair outside the facility and immediately brought her inside for examination, where the doctor unfortunately confirmed her death.' The department explained that the facility was closed at that time and there was no clinical staff on site. It added that security personnel are required to follow established procedures outside of working hours to protect the premises and prevent patients from being left unattended on the grounds of a non-operational medical facility.
The department emphasized: 'Medical services cannot be provided when clinical staff are absent. For this reason, the public cannot access the facility before opening.' Residents needing emergency medical care after hours were advised to go to the Elsie's River Community Health Centre, which operates 24 hours a day.
Residents raise broader concerns about patient care
Nevertheless, Ellis stated that Abraham's death intensified long-standing dissatisfaction among residents. They believe that security staff at Bishop Lavis often treat patients poorly. She claimed that elderly and vulnerable patients were sometimes left waiting outside in wheelchairs, even in wet and cold weather, instead of being allowed to wait inside. Ellis noted: 'There were instances where pensioners sat in wheelchairs in the pouring rain and were not allowed to sit inside, and everyone here knows about the long wait for help.'
Thus, the planned picket will focus not only on Abraham's death but also on what residents describe as broader service delivery failures at the center.
Picket planned due to death and service complaints
Previously, residents had also filed formal complaints regarding the conduct of security staff and issues arising in receiving services. Concerns were also raised about poor communication between staff and patients, language barriers, and the facility's filing system, which residents believe sometimes leads to delays and confusion when seeking treatment.
Now, residents demand that the department investigate whether existing procedures ensure adequate protection for patients arriving just before opening when an emergency medical condition arises. The department stated that it is aware of the video circulating on social media regarding the incident and is reviewing all available information. It also added that Abraham's family can receive counseling and support services through the Bishop Lavis CDC if they wish to use them.
However, for the residents, the protest on Tuesday is expected to aim for more than just an explanation of what happened on September 2. They are pushing for changes in the approach to treating vulnerable patients at the center and clearer procedures for people seeking urgent help before official opening.