The DA in Limpopo has written to Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba, to urgently address underperforming and inadequate security services at health facilities in the province.
This follows reports of three gunmen who entered Mogoboya Clinic in Maake, pretending to have brought a patient, and robbed the security guard of his firearm. Two weeks ago armed suspects broke into Moletlane Clinic, tied up the guard and also stole cellphones, medicine and medical equipment.
The growing number of criminal incidents at Limpopo health facilities brings the standard of security at health facilities in the province into question.
In September 2020 the Limpopo Portfolio Committee of Health conducted site visits to 20 health facilities and raised the need for proper security measures such as adequate palisade fencing at clinics and the need to address security at nurses’ housing to ensure staff safety.
The current security companies and measures in place seem to be inadequate and are failing to prevent theft and security breaches at hospitals and clinics in the province.
We call on Ramathuba to improve security measures at health facilities, especially in rural clinics and hospitals, and to collaborate with SAPS to ensure visible policing and their regular presence at health facilities at night.