Today, the department learnt that one of its staff members allegedly raped a minor, a 15 year old girl from Inanda (whose name cannot be revealed as she is still a minor), who had accompanied a friend to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital to seek medical attention.
It is said that a 40 year old member of staff at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, in Phoenix, raped a minor who had accompanied a 10 year old girl who had gone to the hospital for medical attention. The incident occurred at about 05h00 this morning at the hospital’s admission office.
He lured the girl into the records room where he strangled and sexually assaulted the minor girl.
Police were called in by the cleaning staff who were told by the sobbing girl and have arrested the perpetrator whose identity cannot be mentioned as he still has to appear in court.
On hearing of this incident the MEC said, “We are happy that the police came in swiftly and we hope that the perpetrator will get what he deserves and rot in jail. Our hospitals are places of care and people come to us because they are in need of care. We need people with integrity and who always do what is right to protect the patient. People who always do their best to make sure nothing they or anyone else does, or does not do, may harm the patient's mental or physical health or delay their recovery. People who assault and abuse children do not belong to this service and if there are still others like him, we must do all our best to rid them off the service. Our government is very serious about dealing with issues of women and child abuse.”
Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 285 0567
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
28 March 2010
