Following his visit earlier today to the family of a 24-year-old Intern Doctor who bit off a man’s tongue as he attempted to rape her while she was in one of the overnight staff quarters on Tuesday, Mkhize condemned the incident and said security measures will definitely be beefed at the hospital.

He acknowledged the provincial department’s effort to tighten security since the incident but said more needs to be done. 

Mkhize said access control to the hospital will be looked into and more security measures must be implemented. 

He has assured the family and the personnel at the hospital that investigations into the case will be carried out and appealed to hospitals in the different provinces to ensure that they upgrade their security and establish security committees that will look into the efficiency of basic security.

Addressing the media at the Hospital, Mkhize said all precautionary measures will be taken at healthcare facilities to avert such incidents.

“We believe that where there have been lapses in the day-to-day maintenance of security systems there have to be consequences, and we believe that there has to be an upgrade of the whole security system so that in the future such situations do not arise,” said Mkhize.

He says they are going to be strict in terms of access control to hospitals, although it might seem inconvenient to many, the public will have to understand that the department has an obligation to protect personnel and patients.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela and Olebogeng Motse