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The Democratic Alliance (DA) urgently wants to know how the Northern Cape Health Department intends better safeguarding staff and patients.

This comes after a gang-related incident at the Dr Torres clinic in Roodepan, Kimberley just over a week ago. It is alleged that three male persons entered the clinic from a side door before stabbing a patient seated in the waiting room.

The incident sent shockwaves through the community. Staff and patients who are working and visiting the facility, are now doing so in fear.

This is not the first violent incident to occur at the clinic. In 2021, two staff members were attacked by a patient in the consultation rooms, with a hammer and a gas bottle.  Staff vehicles have also previously been deliberately scratched.

For years, the DA has been calling for improved security at hospitals and clinics, especially in light of the lack of security personnel, controversial security contracts, promises to insource security and incidents that have occurred at various health facilities. After the kidnapping of a baby at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe hospital last year, we further amplified our call on the provincial health department to review security at all facilities.

While we note that security assessments have since been conducted at a number of facilities, the failure by the department to act on security recommendations is worrying.  The implementation of basic measures like the installation of security doors and the appointment of adequate security guards,  should not get in the way of access to health care.

The DA has written to Health MEC, Maruping Lekwene, requesting that security be beefed up at the Dr Torres Clinic. We also want to see the department’s plan to improve security at facilities across the province.

The safety of staff and patients should not to be taken lightly. Action is needed to ensure that peoples’ lives are secured when visiting health care facilities.

Issued by Dr Isak Fritz, MPL - DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate