Parents of disabled man want answers after death linked to 'unregistered' facility

The family of 32-year-old Nicolin van Rooyen is seeking answers following his death on July 4, 2026, at Mitchells Plain Day Hospital. Van Rooyen spent over a year at an unregistered rehabilitation facility called BGB Health and Rose Parenting in Woodlands, Mitchells Plain. His mother, Shirley van Rooyen, only learned of her son's condition on June 16 when the family was called to the hospital.

Upon arrival, they found their son surrounded by medical machines and tubes with his face swollen and covered in bruises, indicating he had been assaulted.

Shirley van Rooyen claims that Gerome Fisher, a representative of BGB Health and Rose Parenting, refused to provide any explanations and subsequently disappeared, refusing to answer his phone when the family attempted to contact him about their son's injuries. Fisher, however, denies the allegations against his facility, stating that Nicolin suffered frequent seizures and could lose control, leading to falls.

He also claims that the facility is registered nationally on the database of the National Department of Health and Wellness, despite it being unregistered with the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness.

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed that BGB Health and Rose Parenting has never submitted an application for registration and has not been licensed by the department. The National Department of Health and Wellness stated that the registration of such facilities falls under provincial mandate, and thus, they are not responsible for verifying the registration of BGB Health and Rose Parenting.

Western Cape police have opened an inquest docket at Lentegeur SAPS, but no arrests have been made in connection with Nicolin van Rooyen's death.