An emergency meeting has been called to address a series of security breaches which have seen at least two people being treated for injuries at Mthatha’s largest hospital.
In the latest incident a man was wounded after a group of more than five men attacked him inside the premises of the Nelson Mandela Central Hospital (NMCH) at the weekend.
He was allegedly stabbed in his hand when he tried to get a knife to fight off his attackers.
Last week, a female patient was stabbed by her estranged lover while being treated at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit of the hospital.
Nurses subdued the man, who allegedly went berserk in front of terrified patients and nurses.
On Sunday, an unidentified man was saved by security guards after he was dragged from his vehicle and allegedly assaulted by a mob of taxi drivers.
The attack was reportedly carried out in revenge for an earlier road-rage related incident involving a department of health employee working at the hospital.
The official, whose name is known to the Daily Dispatch, allegedly assaulted a pedestrian on the hospital grounds with a knobkierie. It is unclear what sparked the assault.
Three security guards on duty on Sunday said the official was in the company of two men and a female companion at the time of the assault, which allegedly took place in a parking lot near the A&E unit.
Taxi drivers later searching for the official turned on one of his companions when they were unable to find him. The man was dragged out of his car and beaten up, suffering minor injuries.
Recent incidents of violence at the hospital sent shock waves among workers and guards at the facility.
Calls have been made to install safes for firearms in guardrooms and deploy extra guards.
“The attacks take place even though we try our level best to stop them,” said one guard who declined to give his name as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
“The situation is becoming worse, especially with drunk people coming into hospital. Currently we only depend on pepper sprays, batons and handcuffs. We are scared for our lives.”
NMCH’s head of clinical governance Dr Mbuyiselo Madiba could not be reached for comment.
Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department would investigate allegations that an official was involved.
He said an “emergency” meeting would be held tomorrow to discuss the security threat.
“We might decide to end visits while people are still being treated in the A&E unit. It’s clear that those who are involved in stabbing and shooting incidents are hellbent on finishing one another off at the A&E unit,” said Kupelo.
He said the department would not “exaggerate” security measures by deploying armed guards who could become “trigger-happy” and pose a risk to patients. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Safety threat at EC hospital
In the latest incident a man was wounded after a group of more than five men attacked him inside the premises of the Nelson Mandela Central Hospital (NMCH) at the weekend.
He was allegedly stabbed in his hand when he tried to get a knife to fight off his attackers.
Last week, a female patient was stabbed by her estranged lover while being treated at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit of the hospital.
Nurses subdued the man, who allegedly went berserk in front of terrified patients and nurses.
On Sunday, an unidentified man was saved by security guards after he was dragged from his vehicle and allegedly assaulted by a mob of taxi drivers.
The attack was reportedly carried out in revenge for an earlier road-rage related incident involving a department of health employee working at the hospital.
The official, whose name is known to the Daily Dispatch, allegedly assaulted a pedestrian on the hospital grounds with a knobkierie. It is unclear what sparked the assault.
Three security guards on duty on Sunday said the official was in the company of two men and a female companion at the time of the assault, which allegedly took place in a parking lot near the A&E unit.
Taxi drivers later searching for the official turned on one of his companions when they were unable to find him. The man was dragged out of his car and beaten up, suffering minor injuries.
Recent incidents of violence at the hospital sent shock waves among workers and guards at the facility.
Calls have been made to install safes for firearms in guardrooms and deploy extra guards.
“The attacks take place even though we try our level best to stop them,” said one guard who declined to give his name as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
“The situation is becoming worse, especially with drunk people coming into hospital. Currently we only depend on pepper sprays, batons and handcuffs. We are scared for our lives.”
NMCH’s head of clinical governance Dr Mbuyiselo Madiba could not be reached for comment.
Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department would investigate allegations that an official was involved.
He said an “emergency” meeting would be held tomorrow to discuss the security threat.
“We might decide to end visits while people are still being treated in the A&E unit. It’s clear that those who are involved in stabbing and shooting incidents are hellbent on finishing one another off at the A&E unit,” said Kupelo.
He said the department would not “exaggerate” security measures by deploying armed guards who could become “trigger-happy” and pose a risk to patients. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
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