About three men stormed into a neonatal ward in Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton, Limpopo, and threatened nurses with hammers before making off with their cellphones and money.
This was one of seven robberies to hit the hospital in the first five weeks of 2016. The hospital is just a stone throw away from a police station and a tavern.
A security guard was shot in the abdomen last Saturday.
Sowetan has learnt that the rural hospital has been hit by a spate of crime since the year started.
A letter clinical services staff sent to Limpopo health authorities and seen by Sowetan lists eight criminal acts between January 3 and Wednesday this week.
In the first incident, thugs broke into a doctor's house and stole goods including laptops and cellphones.
On Tuesday this week the criminals hit the hospital four times.
A pharmacist was robbed at gunpoint inside her house, while break-in attempts were made at the houses of two doctors, including a female.
"Four gun shots [were] heard within the hospital grounds [on Tuesday]," said the letter.
"We, as the clinical services staff of Philadelphia hospital, are now working and living in fear of our lives and those of the patients.
"We are frustrated, fearful and emotionally traumatised," said the doctors, pharmacists and other health employees in their letter.
Yesterday, a doctor said: "It's very terrible. Just imagine being held at gunpoint inside the hospital [as it happened to a pharmacist]. It means they can go to the extent of raping or killing someone."
Another staff member said management had let them down.
"Management said there would be new measures and police would be involved, but nothing has happened."
In their letter, the health workers demanded an increase of armed security guards, improved police visibility and installation of an electrical fence.
The Limpopo health department spokesperson Derick Kganyago said they were alarmed by the crime wave at Philadelphia.
"We're shocked and disappointed about what is happening. We're lucky that no one has been hurt or died in the process," Kganyago said.
"The department will comply with the demands because we take concerns of our workers seriously. Security guards will be increased.
"The only demand that won't be met immediately is that of electrical fence. "
Cornie Lawrence, commander of the Dennilton police station, said two arrests had been made in connection with the "house robberies [on Wednesday] and the day before".
"Investigations are ongoing. More arrests are expected," he said.
Lawrence added that police and security guards raised their own concerns.
"Police and security felt to improve security the hospital should cut the grass and [fix] fences."
In December student doctors at Witbank Hospital, Mpumalanga, staged a sit-in following a spate of robberies at their residences.
Security at Witbank was reportedly improved.
nkosib@sowetan.co.za
Robbers target rural hospital
About three men stormed into a neonatal ward in Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton, Limpopo, and threatened nurses with hammers before making off with their cellphones and money.
This was one of seven robberies to hit the hospital in the first five weeks of 2016. The hospital is just a stone throw away from a police station and a tavern.
A security guard was shot in the abdomen last Saturday.
Sowetan has learnt that the rural hospital has been hit by a spate of crime since the year started.
A letter clinical services staff sent to Limpopo health authorities and seen by Sowetan lists eight criminal acts between January 3 and Wednesday this week.
In the first incident, thugs broke into a doctor's house and stole goods including laptops and cellphones.
On Tuesday this week the criminals hit the hospital four times.
A pharmacist was robbed at gunpoint inside her house, while break-in attempts were made at the houses of two doctors, including a female.
"Four gun shots [were] heard within the hospital grounds [on Tuesday]," said the letter.
"We, as the clinical services staff of Philadelphia hospital, are now working and living in fear of our lives and those of the patients.
"We are frustrated, fearful and emotionally traumatised," said the doctors, pharmacists and other health employees in their letter.
Yesterday, a doctor said: "It's very terrible. Just imagine being held at gunpoint inside the hospital [as it happened to a pharmacist]. It means they can go to the extent of raping or killing someone."
Another staff member said management had let them down.
"Management said there would be new measures and police would be involved, but nothing has happened."
In their letter, the health workers demanded an increase of armed security guards, improved police visibility and installation of an electrical fence.
The Limpopo health department spokesperson Derick Kganyago said they were alarmed by the crime wave at Philadelphia.
"We're shocked and disappointed about what is happening. We're lucky that no one has been hurt or died in the process," Kganyago said.
"The department will comply with the demands because we take concerns of our workers seriously. Security guards will be increased.
"The only demand that won't be met immediately is that of electrical fence. "
Cornie Lawrence, commander of the Dennilton police station, said two arrests had been made in connection with the "house robberies [on Wednesday] and the day before".
"Investigations are ongoing. More arrests are expected," he said.
Lawrence added that police and security guards raised their own concerns.
"Police and security felt to improve security the hospital should cut the grass and [fix] fences."
In December student doctors at Witbank Hospital, Mpumalanga, staged a sit-in following a spate of robberies at their residences.
Security at Witbank was reportedly improved.
nkosib@sowetan.co.za
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