Violent crime is straining SA health system

AS THE national crime statistics get analysed, the provincial health services and a car tracking company have released stats showing how they have been affected.

Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said interpersonal violence is putting a strain on health services in the province. “This is because interpersonal violence is a major contributor to the pressures we experience especially within our Emergency Centres (ECs) which causes delays in the treatment of many elective procedures,” she said.

Mbombo said patients requiring emergency treatment as a result of violent injury often take preference. Pressure is also then put on other service

platforms: clinics, Forensic Pathology Services, and Emergency Medical Services, as well as delays caused by safety concerns in violent communities.

Car tracking company Tracker said while there was a 2.3% decrease in hijacking, it has noticed an increase in the level of violence used by criminals when committing hijackings.

Tracker said that its records indicate that an average of 18 customers a month experience physical injury during a hijacking, through being shot, stabbed or assaulted – 10% of these incidents are fatal. Tracker said it had noted that, on average, in 27% of its activations a hostage was taken. |