UPDATE: Security tightened at EC hospital following taxi violence

The Eastern Cape department of health has tightened security at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital this morning for the safety of its staff and victims of taxi violence that are receiving care there.

Department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said dozens of police have been deployed around the premises of the hospital and at the entrance.

“There will be thorough search of all the cars entering the hospital,” he said.

Kupelo said they were trying to prevent a situation where, like in the past, survivors of the taxi violence got killed inside their premises.

“ also for the safety of our doctors and nurses as any incident of violence inside the hospital would affect the running of the hospital negatively,” he said.

One person died after he succumbed to injuries he sustained when the shootout between rival taxi organisations broke out last night.

Kupelo said three survivors were receiving treatment at the hospital, while another was treated and discharged yesterday.

Police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni earlier told DispatchLIVE that police were investigating cases of attempted murder.