Entrepreneur dies after complaining of not being fed for 2 days

- Messages of condolences have poured in for South African entrepreneur Shonisani Lethole who passed away on Tuesday

- Lethole died at Tembisa Hospital in Ekurhuleni after sending a tweet to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize saying he hadn't been fed in 48 hours

- The family of the 33-year old man are distraught and are looking for answer over the loss of their son

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!

A family whose son died of Covid-19 at the Tembisa Hospital in Ekhuruleni wants answers from the Health Ministry after he was allegedly denied food for two days.

Shonisani Lethole's last tweets were pleas to Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize, asking for food, saying he had not eaten in 48 hours.

The tweets were sent to the minister on 25 June. The tweet reads:

"Mkhize can I respond to your tweets if the problems I have at one of your facilities continues its becoming unbearable and they don't seem to care. Didn't eat for 48 hours".

READ ALSO: Sisulu, Parliament want answers on eviction of naked Khayelitsha man

Lethole was admitted with breathing complications about two weeks ago.

IOL reported that five days after the heartfelt tweet to Mkhize went unanswered, Lethole took his last breath on the cold beds of the Ekurhuleni Hospital on Tuesday.

The family and friends of the 33-year-old entrepreneur from Kempton Park were left distraught and shattered at the manner in which he died after being admitted at the hospital on 22 June.

Lethole’s girlfriend Mukundi Lambani could only communicate with him over the phone as hospital visits were not allowed for Covid-19 patients due to the restrictions.

Lambani said he often complained about the conditions at Tembisa Hospital, calling it frightening. She added that:

"When we spoke, he said he was really having a hard time. He said they hadn’t fed him and said he was kept in a ward with other people who had passed on."

Incidents of patients not receiving the care they need have been on the rise due to the healthcare system being strained. Briefly.co.za reported that a doctor in the Eastern Cape said hospitals are full and patients are lying in corridors.

Messages of condolences have poured in for Lethole, who has been described as a "talented arts entrepreneur".

South African actor and MP Fana Mokoena relayed a message of condolences, saying the government failed Lethole.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!

Source: Briefly News