Attack on Limpopo hospital and staff ‘barbaric and criminal’

The attack on the WF Knobel Hospital in Limpopo by protesters is barbaric, said the Transport and Community Safety MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya on Monday.

She condemned the group of protesters who marched into the hospital on Monday morning and assaulted staff, damaged government property and deprived residents of their right to access healthcare.

The incident was part of ongoing service delivery protests in the area in which residents blockaded the roads to the hospital and denied healthcare workers and emergency vehicles to enter or exit the premises. The Department of Health were forced to evacuate patients and hospital staff to nearby healthcare facilities, to ensure their safety.

“It is concerning that the ongoing acts of violence during service delivery protests targets government property and public servants. Yesterday’s attack was just one of many incidents where public property is used as a bargaining tool by criminals who masquerade as community leaders and hijack genuine community protests for their selfish gain.”

She added that this act was purely barbaric and must be condemned.

“Communities have the right to protest but it must be done within the ambits of law. If people are protesting about the condition of the road how will assaulting staff and vandalizing property benefit them.”

Lerule-Ramakhanya concluded that those responsible will be held accountable for the damages caused.