Zero tolerance towards abuse against officials says Health Department

LIMPOPO – A case has been opened against a man who was seen insulting and threatening a nurse so ‘he can face the full might of the law’, the Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday.

This comes after a video recording of the man unleashing a barrage of insults and threats towards a nurse on duty at the Vaalwater Clinic in the Waterburg District has been circulated on social media.

The altercation came after the accused was allegedly told to go home after he filled out a form incorrectly. In the video he is seen explaining to the nurse on duty that they can’t tell him to go home after he waited in a queue and was not assisted to fill out the form. He further hurled insults and threatened her saying the clinic belongs to the community and not to them.

According to the spokesperson for the department, Neil Shikwambana, the department has adopted a zero tolerance on any form of rogue behavior meted against staff in any of its facilities.
“The department will not standby and watches when rogue elements and criminals targets and terrorizes its staff members, the department will do everything in its power to protect the well-being of staff members.”

To this end, the department has opened a case with the police against the alleged perpetrator and believes that police will affect an arrest soon, Shikwambana added.

“The department once again calls upon all law abiding citizens to jealously protect health care facilities and health care workers who exists for the sole purpose of providing care to community members,” he concluded.