Witrand hospital suffers attack, cable theft
An estimated 60 000 rand worth of cable was stolen from Witrand Hospital.
Witrand Hospital staff were left traumatized after being shot at during a cable theft incident on 10 May 2024.
The incident happened around 2:00 am after the cable thieves started shooting at security officers and two health professionals who ran for help upon discovering the thieves. Witrand Hospital management reported that the cable thieves continued to terrorize the security officers and health professionals by vandalizing Ward 10, which is a non-functional, closed down ward.
Police were called and arrived promptly with five police vans to manage the situation. No one was hurt during the incident, but the security officers and health professionals were traumatized.
The hospital was robbed of an estimated R60 000 worth of cable, and still have to determine the costs of damage to the other equipment and property. Colonel Adèle Myburgh stated that five meters of cable were stolen and that no arrests were made. Col Myburgh further stated that a case was opened on 10 May 2024 with regards to destroying and damaging essential infrastructure.
The pharmacy, kitchen, stores, staff accommodation and the main admin building were affected by the cable theft. Service providers managed to restorepower to the hospital, but certain areas are still without electricity sd s result of the theft. Medication and perishable items were moved to keep these products from expiring.
Madoda Sambatha, a Member of the Executive Council for Health (MEC), was greatly upset by the attack. “This is a grave injustice and a crime against humanity,” MEC Sambatha said. “It cannot be that our quest to preserve lives is sabotaged by criminals who enter hospital grounds and steal copper cables that supply electricity to critical areas of the hospital”,
This incident is not a first for Witrand Hospital. A similar incident took place on 24 January 2024 when one of three suspects attempting to steal copper was arrested by a safety officer.
The hospital implemented new safety measures, and three tactical response teams were placed on night duty since the 10 May incident.
The Department of Health in the North West province requested that the community work alongside the police to protect the hospital
