Mpumalanga Department of Health says Themba Hospital is now fully functional again

Services at the Themba Regional Hospital are back on track.

This after the hospital had to be closed for almost three weeks due to the community unrest taking place in the KaBokweni area recently.

According to information, a group of community members, and a group which calls themselves the KaBokweni Business Forum, allegedly stormed Themba Hospital on April 4.

They demanded a meeting with the management, but the situation escalated and turned violent. In the process, some doctors and nurses were allegedly assaulted, which resulted in health unions advising their members to down tools until it was safe to return to work.

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The premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, and health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, who have been hands-on since the unrest started, having several meetings and engagements with the hospital management, unions and community members, visited the hospital and promised to beef up security.

Manzini said the services at the hospital have now been resumed.

“Since Monday April 15, the hospital is fully functional with all sections open. All patients on chronic medication are encouraged to go to the hospital to collect their medication if it is due.”

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Manzini acknowledged the community, patients and various stakeholders who were involved.

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“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their support and patience during these past two weeks. We worked together with the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison and the SAPS to attend to the security concerns at the hospital. We also would like to thank organised labour in our department for the crucial role they played to bring the situation there back to normality,” she said.