Two men were killed during a shootout with security guards at Durban’s King Edward VIII Hospital on Wednesday.

KwaZulu-Natal health departmental spokesman Desmond Motha said the men were allegedly part of a group of “aggrieved people who are employed by outsourced security companies“.

“The department understands that the unknown armed men entered the hospital and a shootout ensued between them and security guards on duty. Two of the intruders were shot dead‚ and a security guard had to receive treatment in the trauma unit after being shot in the leg. A nurse was also assaulted while walking from the matron’s office to the transport department‚” he said.

 KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said the incident was “very unfortunate and unnecessary incident“.

“I would like to once again urge any aggrieved individuals to desist from perpetrating acts of violence‚ and instead follow the appropriate channels‚ using recognised labour formations‚ to air their grievances.

 “We also wish to call upon law enforcement authorities to work to ensure that people who break the law‚ or those behind acts of sabotage‚ are apprehended and made to face the full might of the law.”