Caption: Dr Syam Prabhakaran Nair at the Madadeni Magistrate's Court.
Image: Picture: Supplied
THE KZN Health Department is continuing its internal processes against Dr Syam Prabhakaran Nair, 67, who was granted bail after facing serious sexual assault charges involving multiple patients at Madadeni Hospital.
Nair, of Newcastle, was granted bail of R15 000 at the Madadeni Regional Court on Friday.
According to the charge sheet:
- Nair allegedly sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman between October 2025 and March 2026.
- A 35-year-old woman opened charges against him for sexually assaulting her, allegedly touching her breasts and forcing her to touch him on January 19.
- He faced a third charge for a similar modus operandi by another 35-year-old complainant who alleged she was sexually violated on February 26.
- On April 22, a 32-year-old woman charged Nair with sexual assault, which led to his arrest.
KZN MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane, who attended the bail hearing, said outside court that the internal departmental processes would run parallel to the legal proceedings.
KZN MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane (third from left) at the Madadeni Regional Court on Friday.
Image: Supplied| KZN Department of Health
She said while the matter was before the courts and the accused was entitled to the presumption of innocence, the department would not look away when serious allegations of patient abuse arise.
“We will always stand on the side of protecting patients and ensuring that victims of abuse are treated with dignity, fairness and without prejudice; and that these internal processes of safeguarding patients will continue without assuming guilt.
“Healthcare facilities must remain places of safety, healing and trust for all communities,” she added.
Simelane expressed appreciation to the community who attended court in solidarity with the victims.
She said their presence reflected a society that refused to remain silent in the face of alleged abuse against vulnerable patients.
Nair was arrested on April 28 at Madadeni Hospital after a whistleblower alerted police to complaints of him allegedly touching female patients inappropriately and forcing them to perform sexual acts on him.
The four victims are from Madadeni, Mzinyathi, eThekwini, and Utrecht.
The CEO of Madadeni Hospital was subpoenaed to appear before the KZN Health Portfolio Committee on Thursday.
Dr Imran Keeka, chairperson of the KZN Health Portfolio Committee, said the engagement will allow the committee to assess the adequacy of actions taken to date and the effectiveness of safeguards implemented to protect patients following the multiple cases against Nair.
Keeka said the committee urged any other victims to come forward so that all allegations could be properly investigated.