Traumatised staff at the Kalbaskraal Satellite Clinic, outside Malmesbury in the Western Cape, were safely evacuated last week after a group of men barged into the facility demanding the whereabouts of a patient, reports Voice of Cape.
A police spokesperson said Malmesbury SAPS was aware of reports of a shooting, but that no criminal case has been registered for further investigation.
The incident prompted the clinic’s closure for the rest of the day and came hard on the heels of a go-slow strike at another community clinic – in Khayelitsha – where workers demanded urgent action after a series of hijackings at and near the facility.
The Western Cape Department of Health has strongly condemned any form of violence, intimidation or threatening behaviour at healthcare facilities.
“The safety and well-being of our healthcare workers and patients remain our highest priority. Healthcare facilities must remain safe spaces where patients can access care and where …workers can perform their duties without fear.
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