The family of former Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba has expressed frustration over the inadequate care he received at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg.
Mashaba, 74, was admitted to the public hospital on January 27 due to a bladder infection but reportedly went two days without being seen by a doctor.
Speaking in an interview with Radio 2000, a family spokesperson detailed the challenges Mashaba faced during his hospital stay.
“He was very bad when admitted. His tongue was swollen, blocking his airways,” the spokesperson said. “The care is not good. This is a public hospital, so it has its own challenges. The coach didn’t see a doctor for a day or two.”
The spokesperson also described further complications after Mashaba finally received medical attention.
“The doctors said they needed to insert a catheter, but when it was time to remove it, the doctor didn’t show up. An hour after removal, complications arose, and he couldn’t pee again.”
Mashaba, a former player for Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows in the 1970s, last worked in football with Witbank Aces in 2019.
His coaching career has been marked by contentious exits, including being fired as Bafana Bafana coach in 2016 following criticism of South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan.
In 2004, he was also dismissed from the role after conflicts with star players Benni McCarthy, Quinton Fortune, and Mark Fish.
