Two nurses, aged 47 and 28, were abducted, assaulted, and raped at gunpoint in a horrifying attack at the Chuene Clinic in Ga-Chuene Village, outside Polokwane, Limpopo, in the early hours of Friday, 10 January.
The incident has left healthcare workers terrified and questioning their safety, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for improved security measures at healthcare facilities across the province.
The attack unfolded around 1am on Friday. A heavily armed man, or men, overpowered three security guards, tying them up before abducting the two nurses who were on night duty. Reports indicate that the gunman, after handcuffing two of the security guards, forced the third to lead him to the nurses.
He then allegedly dragged them to nearby bushes where he repeatedly raped them and robbed them of their valuables. The nurses, traumatised and shaken, only managed to return to the clinic around 5am, recounting their ordeal to authorities. They were subsequently taken to Seshego hospital for medical evaluation.
The incident has understandably instilled fear amongst healthcare workers. A 46-year-old nurse expressed the widespread sentiment, stating, “We put our lives in danger trying to help the sick but end up getting attacked. We don’t want to work night shifts until security is beefed up at healthcare centres across the province.”
This sentiment is echoed by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) Limpopo provincial secretary, Jacob Molepo, who expressed shock and frustration at the incident.
He stated, “We thought healthcare workers were safe while working at night because this is the only clinic in the area that operates 24/7 to help villagers.”
Molepo further called for the immediate strengthening of security systems at healthcare facilities, advocating for the deployment of armed and competent security personnel, installation of CCTV cameras, and other safety devices to aid police investigations.
Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego expressed her “shock and disgust” at the attack, describing it as a “barbaric” act and a significant setback to the department’s efforts to maintain 24/7 clinic operations.
“This incident is not only an attack on our clinic. It’s an insult to the very fabric of our community. Individuals responsible for this crime are not strangers here. They’re among us. I urge villagers to rise up and assist police in their investigation,” she said.
Mashego confirmed that psychological support has been arranged for the victims and vowed that her department would work tirelessly with law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“My heart goes out to the two nurses who have suffered immense physical and psychological trauma,” she stated.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that investigations are underway into cases of business robbery, two counts of rape, and kidnapping. “Police are investigating cases of business robbery, two counts of rape and kidnapping. We’re confident we’ll arrest the suspects,” he said.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has assembled a multi-disciplinary team to expedite the investigation and ensure the perpetrator faces the full force of the law.
“We have assembled a multi-disciplinary team to expedite the investigation and bring the perpetrator to book. He must face the full might of law. We are appealing to community members to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation team in locating the suspect,” said Hadebe.
The Department of Health spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana, echoed the MEC’s sentiments, highlighting the severity of the incident and the department’s commitment to supporting the affected nurses. “MEC Mashego expressed her shock and deep hurt about this deplorable incident that happened to our two nurses at Ga-Chuene clinic and she has described the incident not only as barbaric but also as a setback towards the department’s efforts to ensure that clinics operate for 24 hours. Police have been called to the scene, and the two nurses are receiving psychological support.”
Denosa has long raised concerns about the lack of adequate security at various clinics across the province, urging the department to implement more robust security measures beyond simply relying on physical manpower.
The organisation has stressed the need for advanced security technologies such as CCTV cameras and other monitoring devices to enhance safety and provide crucial evidence in the event of future incidents.
