POLOKWANE – The provincial department of health has beefed-up security at Hayani Hospital in Thohoyandou after a nurse was attacked by a psychiatric patient in the hospital’s prison ward on Thursday afternoon.
This was confirmed by department spokesperson, Derrick Kganyago.
Kganyago said a 51-year-old female nurse was doing her routine work when she was strangled to death by a psychiatric patient.
“The MEC for health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba has instituted a team of investigators comprising of professional psychiatric experts to investigate the horror. Workers are still shocked, but they are receiving counselling,” said Kganyago.
Spokesperson for the Thohoyandou police, Maj Mashudu Malelo said they have opened a murder case.
“The patient attacked the nurse with an iron bar, hitting her four times in the head. She was certified dead on the scene,” said Malelo.