The driver had just dropped off an elderly patient discharged from Jubilee Hospital at around 20:40 on Tuesday (1/9) in Tladistad village when an armed man approached, pointed a firearm at him and demanded his cellphone and wallet.

The driver was ordered to lie on the ground while five patients still inside the vehicle were robbed of their cellphones and told to get out. North West health spokesperson Tshegofatso Mothibedi said the perpetrators then in the department’s patient transport vehicle.

North West health MEC Sello Lehari condemned the hijacking and expressed concern that criminals had targeted a vehicle providing an essential public health service, placing both patients and a department employee at risk.

“We strongly condemn this senseless and criminal act. A patient transport vehicle is not a luxury vehicle; it is a public health resource dedicated to transporting patients, including elderly and vulnerable people, safely to and from healthcare facilities.”

The department activated its response mechanisms immediately after receiving information about the hijacking. The vehicle’s tracking system was activated and its coordinates shared with response teams. It was located at Kalkpunt near Rabosula village and recovered at about 21:12, less than 40 minutes after the hijacking.

The suspects had already fled. The recovered vehicle was towed to Jericho police station for further investigation, while Makapanstad SAPS attended the original crime scene in Tladistad and opened a criminal case, Mothibedi said.

Lehari commended department officials, tracking and response teams, SAPS and community structures for the swift response. No serious physical injuries were reported among the driver or patients, although the MEC said the incident remained deeply disturbing because of the trauma involved.

“No healthcare worker or patient should have to face the trauma and fear of being robbed at gunpoint while accessing or delivering healthcare services,” he said.

Alternative arrangements were made for the remaining patients, who had been due to travel to Kgomo-Kgomo and Cyferskuil, to reach their homes safely after the incident.

‘When these resources are attacked, it is the community that ultimately suffers’

Lehari called on communities to work with law enforcement agencies to protect public infrastructure, healthcare workers and other public servants providing essential services. He warned that attacks on public health resources ultimately affect the same communities those services were intended to support.

“Our healthcare workers and public health resources belong to the people. When these resources are attacked, it is the community that ultimately suffers. We appeal to communities to reject and report criminal activities targeting healthcare workers, patients and departmental vehicles.”

The department will continue to cooperate with police as investigations into the hijacking proceed.

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