This is according to the DA in the Free State Legislature. The party’s leader, Roy Jankielsohn, says the incident where a female doctor at the hospital bit off a man’s tongue as he attempted to rape her while she was sleeping in one of the overnight staff quarters, puts in question the quality of security and safety at the institution.

He says this is more concerning taking into account that one doctor was gang-raped at the hospital a few years ago, and the time has come for the provincial MEC, Montsheng Tsiu, to pull up her socks. 

Briefing the media on the party’s Community Policing Bill and how it seeks to deal with the scourge of crime in the province, Jankielsohn said Tsiu must be held accountable as her department was supposed to beef up security at all healthcare facilities following the first incident in 2010. 

He says the party will be submitting questions regarding the state of healthcare and lack of safety in the provincial legislature.

The party’s Caucus Leader, James Letuka, added that they cannot allow a situation where the lives of patients and personnel are at risk due to the department’s lack of responsibility.

“We must ensure that people are safe and that those in positions of power are held accountable, because when one hears of such incidents the first thing that comes to one’s mind is the question of where were the security guards.” said Letuka.

In the 2010 case, a 35-year-old doctor, who was specialising in paediatrics, was hit over the head with a brick and raped by a suspect who was at that time only 16 years old. She was heading for the neo-natal unit on the ground floor at about 02:00 when the accused overpowered her on a dark staircase and raped her.

Jankielsohn added that people cannot be expected to work in public or private institutions if those institutions do not guarantee their safety.

He said although the proposed Bill is not aimed specifically at dealing with such incidents, it is proposed to improve service delivery of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and assist communities in the fight against crime as well as to enable greater oversight over the SAPS.

The party further expressed concern with regard to the lack of border control and escalating border crime. Jankielsohn and Letuka have both raised concerns with regard to the number of illegal foreigners in the province and in the country at large.

“We are not saying all criminal activities in the country are committed by foreigners, but statistics indicate that the number of undocumented foreigners in the country is shocking. The Bill thus seeks to ensure that issues such as stock theft from the Free State to the neighbouring country of Lesotho, and the lack of policing in both rural and urban areas is addressed,” said Letuka.

Meanwhile, the provincial health department says calm is restored at Pelonomi Hospital following the incident. Spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, says the nursing staff, doctors and other categories of workers were briefed by the CEO on steps to be taken immediately to heighten security.

OFM News