Police in Limpopo are offering a reward of up to R100 000 for any information that will lead to the arrest and subsequent conviction of the suspects responsible for the recent occurrences of attempted murder and house robbery at a number of health facilities across the province. This follows incidents that occurred in different health institutions in Limpopo recently where doctors were robbed of their belongings, assaulted, shot and injured.
Letaba Hospital
It is alleged that approximately five armed suspects attacked doctors in their residential premises and robbed them of an amount of cash, cell phones, television sets and laptops. It was further reported that the suspected robbers shot and injured three doctors in the process and injured the fourth one with a sharp object. A couple, both doctors, were shot and their two-month-old baby caught in the crossfire. The baby was unharmed.
Lebowakgomo Hospital
Police information alleged that a group of about seven armed suspects entered the hospital premises at around midnight on Friday, broke into the doctors’ residence and robbed them of money, cell phones and laptops. The perpetrators further assaulted one doctor, broke into a vehicle and fired several gunshots.
Manganeng Clinic
A suspected robber believed to be 39-years-old was on Saturday shot and killed by the Police during a car chase at Manganeng village, Ga-Sekhukhuni in the Burgersfort Cluster soon after he and his accomplices committed a business robbery at Manganeng Clinic, Police informed. It was reported that a security officer at the clinic was allegedly accosted by two suspects who then proceeded to rob her of her 9mm pistol and ten rounds of ammunition.
Police
Provincial Police Cooperate Communications Head, Motlafela Mojapelo indicated that suspects who robbed doctors in Letaba and Lebowakgomo gained access into the premises by breaking the concrete bars of the fence behind the doctors’ residence. He further said the Provincial Commissioner, Nneke Ledwaba has already put into action the 72-hour action plan to hunt down these criminals.
“The Provincial Police task team has been hard at work searching for the suspects who attacked the doctors at Letaba Hospital. The same task team will also take over the investigation of this latest house robbery at Lebowakgomo Hospital. The reward is not only for information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects involved in the two incidents but for all the incidents that occurred in various health facilities across the province,” Mojapelo explained.
He further stated that Ledwaba has established a Special Task Team to investigate all reported cases that were committed in hospitals and clinics and has urged members to be relentless when confronting this scourge. Mojapelo pleaded with anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact James Espach on 082 576 0743 or Richard Boshomane on 079 894 5501, or call the toll free number 086 001 0111 or visit the nearest Police station.
Department of Health
A statement issued by Minister of Health spokesperson Popo Maja highlighted that after the attack on doctors in Letaba Hospital, Ministers of Health and Police Aaron Motsoaledi and Bheki Cele visited the hospital for full briefing by the Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba and Ledwaba to consider necessary steps to be taken to avoid the recurrence of such acts of criminality.
Department of Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana reiterated that the motive behind the robberies is unknown at the moment and added that Police investigations would reveal the reasons. He further said there is adequate security in various health facilities but it is unfortunate criminals somehow manage to access the institutions. According to Shikwambana, the injured doctors are recuperating well in hospital.
Sama
The South African Medical Association (Sama) Limpopo and its members have noted with disappointment and heavy hearts the repetition of what the doctors of hospitals such as George Masebe, W.F Knobel, Matlala, Zebediela, Philadelphia and many more, have experienced over the past few weeks. Sama Provincial Secretary Seshoka Muila said “We are told time and again that doctors and nurses are essential employees yet the treatment we receive remain the exact opposite. We are therefore calling upon Ramathuba and the armed forces of this country to descend to all the public health institutions with the necessary speed so as to put up measures for maximum protection of health facilities and fellow healthcare professionals.”
DA Limpopo
Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle said the incident in Letaba comes after a robbery that occurred in Sekgopo Clinic about a week ago. The department’s solution to the robbery at Sekgopo was to reduce the clinic’s operating hours from being a 24-hour clinic to closing at 16:00, he claimed, adding that this has had a negative effect on health services to the community.
“It is worth questioning whether the insufficient hospital and clinic security is due to the department’s poor financial health which has seen it already commit 50% of the next three years’ budget to claims (contingent liabilities) which exceeds next year’s budget,” Smalle highlighted and called on Ramathuba to increase security at health facilities, especially in rural clinics and hospitals.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
