Sport, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina experienced what many Eastern Cape residents without medical aid go through everyday when she had to be rushed to a hospital almost 24km away, after there was no doctor on duty at the first public hospital.

The flamboyant Majodina had to be driven to the Maclear Hospital after she was turned away from the Ugie Hospital, because there was no doctor to treat her.

At Maclear Hospital, Majodina was bandaged and received painkillers before having an X-ray check-up at Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London.

The MEC was involved in a car accident on Saturday while returning from the funeral of one of her department’s officials.

She escaped with knee and ankle injuries when the driver of the other car allegedly drove into her state vehicle.

Majodina’s spokesman Andile Nduna confirmed the accident occured when the MEC had been returning from the funeral of Nkululeko Mayekiso, a senior official at the department who died in a car accident.

“She was rushed to Ugie Hospital but there was no doctor there and she was then taken to Maclear Hospital where she received attention.

“From Maclear Hospital she had to be taken to St Dominic’s Hospital for X-ray check-ups and further observation,” he said.

Scores of residents who rely on public hospitals for their healthcare experience Majodina’s pain and frustration daily, as they are often turned away from clinics and hospitals because no doctors are on duty.



Nduna said the politician sustained knee and ankle injuries after her vehicle was hit from the side by a motorist who did not have a valid driver’s licence.

Nduna said the doctor had instructed the MEC to take it easy and not put too much pressure on her injured knee and ankle.

“The MEC was sitting in the back passenger seat of the vehicle when the accident happened. There were no injuries to the MEC’s driver,” he said.

Eastern Cape police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci confirmed that Ugie police were investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving and driving without a valid driver’s licence against the driver of the other vehicle.

“The driver was arrested on Saturday and released on Sunday on warning to appear in court. He will appear in the Ugie Periodical Court on July 12,” said Soci.