The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has suspended the doctor from Port Shepstone Hospital, who allegedly raped a 20 year-old woman at the medical facility.

The woman had gone to the hospital as she had been bitten by a dog and needed treatment.

Port Shepstone police spokesman, Captain Petros Mpinge, said the incident allegedly happened on the last Sunday of Women’s Month, August 28.

Mpinge confirmed that the doctor, aged 42, was arrested and charged. He appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, August 30.

“The matter has been postponed to a future date for a formal bail application. The accused remains in police custody,” said Mpinge.

KZN Department of Health spokesman, Mdu Ncalane said the department has noted with grave concern the rape allegations levelled against a doctor at Port Shepstone Hospital

Ncalane said that what was of serious concern was that the incident was alleged to have taken place within a health facility, during Women’s Month, and against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to address gender based violence.

“Noting that this is a criminal matter, which falls under the ambit of the competent law enforcement authorities, the department is unable to comment further, suffice to mention that the alleged perpetrator has been served with a letter of suspension while in a correctional facility,” said Ncalane.

Meanwhile, MEC for the KZN Department of Social Development, Nonhlanhla Khoza, who recently led a social cohesion march in Port Shepstone told Fever that they find solace that the Department of Health has acted swiftly and made a determination to suspend the doctor accused of rape.

Khoza said they are hoping that police will play a bigger role in ensuring that there is a conviction.

“We expect that people in such professions should be leading in fighting cases of GBV, they should be ambassadors even in our hospitals, schools, as well as any other government facility. Understanding the challenges we are faced with as government, they should be leading in the forefront in fighting the scourge of GBV,” said Khoza.