Criminals invade hospital
Criminal activity is becoming a norm at the Middelburg Provincial Hospital. On two separate occasions, criminals found their way to staff belongings in broad daylight.
On Thursday 17 April, a parolee identified as Given Mawela (40) broke into a doctor’s car after receiving treatment.
He was caught red handed by a staff member in the parking lot with the doctor’s laptop. Security personnel gave chase to the suspect and nabbed him in the vicinity.
“The man came to the hospital to have stitches removed. He saw an opportunity to steal on his way out. He smashed the car’s window before stealing the laptop and tried to flee the scene when the staff member saw him. He was apprehended by security guards while police were called to the scene. The doctor had to drive him to the police station after being told there was no transport,” said CEO Philemon Letlalo.
Given Mawela faces a second charge of theft out of motor vehicle. He was released on bail on 11 April, five days before committing the same crime again.
He appeared in the Magistrate’s court on Tuesday. The case was postponed to Thursday.
• A radiographer’s room was burgled on Tuesday afternoon. The intruders gained entry into the premises through a broken window and stole a cell phone, web-box, hard drive and play station.
A case of burglary is being investigated by police, no arrest has yet been made.
“ The revamping project is compromising security at the hospital. It is becoming very difficult to monitor the entrance gates or any suspicious behaviour. We will speak to the project management to speed up the process,” promised Mr Letlalo.
