Two sisters were hijacked at gunpoint outside General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Hospital in the early hours of Heritage Day, raising serious concerns over safety at the regional facility.

Kholeka Mlambo and her sister, Nosihle Mthethwa, were waiting outside the hospital after escorting an ambulance carrying their critically ill friend, Nonhlanhla Khumalo, from Sundumbili Community Health Clinic in Mandeni to KwaDukuza. Nonhlanhla’s 12-year-old daughter travelled in the ambulance, while the sisters followed.

Between 2.15am and 2.25am, while parked outside the hospital’s guard house entrance on Paterson Street, the sisters were approached by two armed men who forced them out of their vehicle after parking in front of them.

“I am just happy to be alive,” said Kholeka, an HR official from Melmoth.

She recalled noticing a white VW Polo following them as they neared KwaDukuza but did not suspect anything sinister.

“The thought never entered my mind that we were in danger. I just thought it was another family admitting someone to hospital,” she said.

Upon arrival, the suspicious vehicle parked behind them. One man exited and circled their car before returning to his own. Moments later, two gunmen emerged and hijacked the sisters, while a third man carrying a backpack got out of an SUV that arrived from another direction.

The hijackers made off with both sisters’ cellphones, two laptops, prescription glasses and clothing and shoes stored in the car. Kholeka said she was frustrated at the lack of assistance from hospital security and not being allowed to park inside.

“Security said they saw nothing. People should not have to wait in an unsafe area in the middle of the night,” she added.

A hospital porter eventually allowed the sisters to use his phone to call Kholeka’s husband and to notify Tracker of the hijacking. Hawkes Protection Services arrived shortly afterwards but were unable to track the stolen vehicle as its system had been disabled.

Acting CEO of General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital, Makhosazana Shabane, said she was unaware of the incident when approached for comment but that she would investigate.

KwaDukuza Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairman Dr Mfuneni Zungu said hijackings were uncommon in the town.

“We don’t have a problem with hijackings; it is mainly theft and robberies,” said Zungu.

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