The Police are investigating a case of murder after a 46-year-old mentally challenged patient being treated at Musina Hospital was fatally shot after reportedly engaging in a violent encounter with security guards at the hospital last Saturday.
Provincial Police Corporate Communications Head, Motlafela Mojapelo said the suspect appeared briefly before the Musina Magistrate’s Court last week on a count of murder and the case was postponed to 31 January for further Police investigation, post-mortem results and ballistic investigations. Mojapelo further said the suspect had been released from Police custody but was expected back in court on the said dates.
According to Mojapelo, a security officer and his female colleague attended to the patient who was breaking items in the hospital on the day of the incident. During an attempt to calm the situation the patient grabbed a hosepipe and started suffocating the female security officer. In an attempt to ward off the attack her colleague then shot the patient in the left thigh. The patient later expired as result of the injury.
The Department of Health reported that a patient, whose identity cannot be disclosed, attacked and tried to assault staff with a metal object. It was revealed that hospital property worth millions had been vandalised in the process. Reportedly Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba, upon learning about the incident, had flown back from East London where she was attending the African National Congress’ 106 birthday celebration to lead an investigation at the hospital.
Departmental Spokesperson, Derick Kganyago stated that Ramathuba had sent a team of experts from both the provincial and district offices after learning about the ordeal to support hospital management in investigating the unfortunate incident and compile a preliminary report. He further said the report highlighted a number of loopholes which he could not reveal since they contain the details of the victim.
“A post mortem has been ordered to be done immediately as part of the investigation. The MEC has sent a message of condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured officer a speedy recovery. All the affected parties are receiving ongoing trauma counselling from a team of dedicated specialists,” Kganyago stated.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
