Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Mariette Pittaway MPL and Sesotho by Karabo Khakhau MP.
The alarming inadequacy of security at healthcare institutions, particularly at public hospitals has become the norm. As part of the DA’s commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our community, we must shed light on the dire situation that poses a significant threat to the safety and security of patients, staff, and visitors.
Some of the security threats date back to 2010, when a 35-year-old doctor, who was specialising in paediatrics, was hit over the head with a brick and raped by three men at Pelonomi Regional Hospital in Bloemfontein. In 2019, another doctor was robbed at gunpoint at the same hospital, just days after an attempted rape of a 24-year-old female doctor. Unfortunately, the safety concerns have not changed. Recent incidents at the Hospital further underscore the urgency of addressing this issue. Two cars were stolen from the premises at this hospital due to the lack of proper security.
The DA has brought to the attention of the MECs of Health and Public Works in the Free State that unlawful occupants are living in abandoned asbestos buildings on the grounds of the National District Hospital, Bloemfontein. The illegal inhabitants have full access day and night to roam the hospital grounds and have entree to all buildings.
The safety of patients and those working within these facilities should never be compromised. Public hospitals must prioritise implementing comprehensive security protocols to prevent such incidents from recurring. Every individual who enters a healthcare facility, whether as a patient seeking medical attention, a healthcare professional providing care, or a concerned family member, deserves to feel safe and secure.
The DA urges immediate action to address this critical issue. We call upon the ANC-led government to implement robust security measures and overhaul the existing safety protocols. The safety and dignity of vulnerable citizens at Healthcare institutions must be upheld.
The DA demands that our healthcare facilities become places of solace, healing, and safety for all. It is time to break the silence on inadequate safety at healthcare institutions and ensure that every person can access healthcare without fearing for their safety. Additionally, we call on the MEC of Health to conduct a security audit of all public hospitals in the Free State.