Woman arrested for theft at Umhlanga Hospital

NETCARE Umhlanga Hospital has insisted there was no breach in their security after a woman was arrested for stealing a cell phone from the pediatric unit on the third floor recently. Media reports that the woman’s intentions were more sinister, as she had tried to steal a baby from the hospital, however the allegations are not true, says the Durban North SAPS and the hospital’s management.

Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the local police station, said the woman, Kelly Gouss, was arrested for theft of a cell phone and was subsequently released on bail.  The incident occurred on 12 October but has recently gain traction in the media because of the breach of security at the hospital.

“The reports in the media and the case opened are very different. We don’t have any reports of a possible kidnapping but a case of theft was opened,” Deokaran said.

According to the general manager of the hospital, Marc van Heerden, the woman used false pretenses to gain access to the unit.

“She gained access to the paediatric unit, which is a locked, access-controlled facility, only after being carefully questioned by the on-duty staff. The only reason she was permitted access to the unit and the toddler’s room was because she provided detailed and convincing information, including the name and personal details of the baby, to the staff on duty, claiming that she was returning to collect the keys of a close family member of the toddler.”

“The woman’s knowledge about the keys that a close family member had left behind points to her having gotten her information from a source outside the hospital. This is the only incident of someone gaining access to our paediatric unit under false pretenses. We once again wish to assure the public that the security system at the hospital is as robust as ever and that our security was not breached,” concluded Van Heerden.

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