Gauteng Health commends SAPS for a swift response following a hijacking incident
The Gauteng Department of Health commends the South African Police Service (SAPS) for a swift response following a hijacking incident on Wednesday morning (24 January) when the Ward Based Primary Healthcare Outreach Team’s (WBPHCOT) car was taken at gun point.
The WBPHCOT team from the Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre was busy conducting their normal household visits at Section 14 in Mamelodi around 10:30am when they were approached by two perpetrators who hijacked their state vehicle and
robbed them of their belongs which included cell phones and cash.
The SAPS managed to recover the white VW Polo sedan which had already been fitted with fake number plates at Extension 11 in Mamelodi, later in the day. The department has since opened a case of robbery and theft at Mamelodi East Police Station.
Counselling has been arranged for the affected staff members.
This attack happens at the time when the department is strengthening its outreach programme to townships, informal settlements and hostels (TISH) communities which is meant to improve access to health services to previously disadvantaged areas.
To push back on attacks on healthcare workers requires a collective effort where communities work closely with law enforcement agencies given that the attacks are taking place in the very communities where we are trying to expand services to.
The Department strongly condemns attacks on our staff and calls on society to take a stand against such crimes as this has a dire impact on sustaining health services in communities.
For more information please contact:
Motalatale Modiba - Head of Communication:
Cell: 064 803 0808
Email: healthmediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
Tshepo Shawa - Spokesperson for the MEC for Health
Cell: 072 222 6333
Email: Tshepo.Shawa@gauteng.gov.za
