Nurse suffered racist abuse in Cape Town ER

RACIST abuse hurled against a Mediclinic nurse in Cape Town amounted to hate speech and harassment, the Equality Court sitting in the city ruled. The patient, who was unhappy because he had to wait before he was assisted, unleashed a stream of racial and gender abuse at the emergency room nurse, who said she was humiliated in the process.

Mark Preyer landed in hot water after he used the “k” word towards nurse Funeka Mayongo during a visit to the clinic in February last year. He also called her a “f ****** b **** ”.

The problems started when Preyer was not coded as a priority patient. According to the receptionist, Preyer, who was at the time outside the emergency care entrance, tried to forcefully open the door to the emergency unit.

Preyer refused to accept that he had to join the queue. He demanded immediate attention. Preyer’s behaviour led to the receptionist approaching Mayongo. The receptionist could not hear what was said between the two of them, but she later saw Mayongo leaving the adjacent room, crying.

Mayongo testified that she saw the wound on Preyer’s foot and concluded that it was not a priority case. Whilst asking him questions, Preyer got angry and started swearing at her.

Preyer’s case was that he was travelling on a motorcycle when it fell on him and injured his foot. According to him, it was a deep flesh wound on his right shin. He went to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment and claimed that the receptionist appeared disinterested as she was busy on the phone.

Preyer claimed that the nurse also looked up at him with an expression of naked hostility while his wound was “dripping blood”.

His feeling was that he was being racially prejudiced. He, however, denied calling her by the “k” word. He said he was usually a calm person, so he was not proud that he lost his temper.

Judge Daniel Thulare noted that Preyer was impatient and angry and that he did make the utterances, as this was supported by other witnesses.

The matter will return to court to decide on a sanction.