Robbers drop a toy gun and flee at KwaPata Clinic
Clumsy robbers, who pretended to be patients at the KwaPata Clinic on Thursday and held up a nurse at gunpoint, dropped their firearm at the scene in their haste to escape. It was later established that the firearm was actually a toy gun.
It is alleged that two men held up a nurse in the consultation room, just outside the main clinic. The men allegedly robbed the nurse of his iPhone, causing one of the patients to pounce on them in attempt to get the phone back.
In the tussle, one of the robbers dropped his firearm while fleeing the scene.
Following the incident, safety concerns have been raised in the health facilities on the outskirts of the city.
A source close to the incident said this gunpoint robbery has left staff concerned about their safety, given that there have been other attacks on health facilities.
Employees have raised the issue of safety, especially in the containers that are used as the male consultation rooms. They are placed outside the clinic and there is no security.
“They always feared that something will happen since there is no security and now it has actually happened. It is scary that people cannot feel safe in their workplaces,” said the source.
In 2022, the publication reported that staff at KwaPata Clinic feared criminals in the area and had appealed for a fence to be erected.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) said they want the Department of Health to give them a proper security plan for clinics and other facilities.
Nehawu secretary in the Harry Gwala Region Mazwi Ngubane said it was painful knowing that health workers are being targeted by criminals and that government is not providing security.
It looks like everything was falling onto deaf ears. They do not care about the safety of the employees, as long as the job is getting done.
“They want to see someone get injured before they actually do something. After this incident, we want the department to give us a proper plan for safety measures. If not, we will be forced to shut down that clinic and take our members where it is safe to work,” he said.
In December, a gang attacked the Caluza Clinic using a similar modus operandi.
They entered posing as patients and then robbed other patients and security guards stationed there. A female guard was pistol-whipped and sustained a gash to her forehead.
uMgungungundlovu District acting police spokesperson Warrant Officer Panchael Singh said a case of robbery has been opened.
He said two unknown men, who were wearing surgical masks, entered a container where the nurse was consulting with a patient and closed the door.
“One suspect pulled a firearm, which was later established to be a toy gun, and cocked it, while the other grabbed the victim and pushed him against the wall and demanded a cellphone. They took an iPhone which was on the table. One suspect instructed the other to shoot the victim. That is when the patient jumped and tried to grab the ‘gun’. The suspect then lost control of the weapon and dropped the firearm. They fled on foot,” he said.
In other news – Lerato Kganyago suffers a fifth miscarriage
South African actress, model, and media personality who is currently Metro FM radio personality, Lerato Kganyago says she lost another baby on Valentine’s month. The media personality took to her Instagram stories on Wednesday, 21 February to reveal that she had another miscarriage.
“Pardon my silence. This was the most happiest but became the most painful month of love. On the 12th was when my incredible gynae broke the news. Read More
