Health minister condemns rape of Limpopo nurse

Health Minister Joe Phaahla has condemned the rape and assault of a Limpopo nurse which took place on Tuesday.

The newly appointed nurse who is based at the Madumane Clinic in Greater Tzaneen Municipality, was on her way to work when she got off a taxi and a fellow male passenger offered to accompany her and later attacked her.

How it transpired

“The man who up to then looked unsuspicious and friendly, offered to accompany her as she walked to the clinic where she is based for work, but along the way he accosted and forcefully dragged her into the nearby bush, where he assaulted and raped her before disappearing with some of her belongings,” said the health department in a statement.

After the horrendous incident, the nurse managed to get up and call for assistance from a house nearby in the middle of the night.

Assistance

Meanwhile, Phaahla has appealed to the community members of Madumane village and nearby to assist police to find the perpetrator.

Furthermore, the department said it will work with law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations to explore ways in which security of healthcare workers can improved as it aims to place more professional healthcare personnel in the underserved and disadvantaged communities.

Seperate incident

In 2019, A nurse was raped in the consulting room of Nkonjeni Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.

Media reported at the time that an unknown suspect walked onto the hospital’s premises at around 5pm pretending to seek medical assistance. He then proceeded to the internal clinic’s consulting room and overpowered the nurse, before raping her.

By the time the police had arrived, the suspect had already fled.

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