Getrude Makhafola

Getrude Makhafola

Sophiatown police have not yet arrested any of the drunk gunmen accused of threatening to shoot and kill staff at the Rahima Moosa Hospital despite their having the shooters' home address.

And security guards at the hospital, which used to be called the Coronation Hospital, have complained about the police's inaction every time they catch criminals at the hospital and take them to the police station.

Staff at the hospital were shaken by a Christmas Day attack when gun-wielding men fired shots in the air, apparently angered by a doctor who they claimed refused to admit a "sick baby" after it was referred to a clinic.

The doctor on duty had decided the baby was not ill enough to be admitted to the hospital.

"Our job here is rendered useless by the police since they refuse to open cases against criminals every time we take them to the station.

"They do not take us seriously," said one of the security guards who witnessed the shooting.

Democratic Alliance health spokesman Jack Bloom said the police should pursue the case and bring the suspect to court as soon as possible.

"It seems this used to happen all the time when drunk people became unruly at the hospital. The police need to arrest the suspect and set an example," Bloom said.

Sophiatown police said they were still investigating and that no arrests had been made.