Armed thugs sow fear among doctors

Spree of robberies raises concerns that province could see mass exodus of private health practitioners

Healthcare practitioners are under siege and working in fear as medical centres and private practices in parts of East London are targeted by armed criminals pretending to be patients.

This has led to the SA Medical Association (Sama), which represents more than 300 doctors in the Eastern Cape, to write to provincial police commissioner Major-general Nomthetheleli Mene and premier Oscar Mabuyane for urgent intervention.

Speaking to the Dispatch from South Korea, Sama chief executive Dr Mzulungile Nodikida said he feared the recent attacks might result in a mass exodus of private doctors from the Eastern Cape.

He said they had also written letters to police minister Bheki Cele after receiving complaints from the province’s doctors.

“We’ve received complaints and reported it to the police,” he said.

“The complaints in East London were just the worst, it was week after week.

“One doctor was targeted three times in just weeks, which is just wrong.

“We wrote those letters because we could see these doctors will leave.

“These are experienced doctors and our people need them the most.

“What is worse is that now they also rob the patients.

“The provincial commissioner said she would attend to it.”

The criminals, wearing masks and Panama hats, have held doctors, pharmacies and patients hostage before making off with personal belongings, including cash and cellphones.

Other criminals forced medical workers to produce their bank cards with pin numbers.

This has led to various medical centres in Southernwood beefing up security in their dispensaries.

Members of what is believed to be a syndicate are said to demand CCTV footage after the robberies.

Last week, at two medical centres occupants were robbed at gunpoint of cash, cellphones, bank cards and a car.

On Friday, at Every Smile Dentistry in Mdantsane, criminals pounced on unsuspecting patients and staff. They were forced to produce their bank details and cash was seized.

In a voice recording heard by the Dispatch, a patient, whose identity is being withheld for their safety, says the group of armed men stormed the practice and held staff and patients at gunpoint.

“It happened when I was inside [the dentistry].

“They took our bank cards and our cellphones.

“They wanted your card and pin number. They were operating with another group waiting outside. I am grateful that none of us was harmed.

“We all followed orders, and all they said was that we should comply and they would take the cards and leave.

“They left and used the doctor’s car as a getaway vehicle,” the victim said.

The car was recovered near Dickson Dyani Senior Primary School in Mdantsane’s NU4.

When the Dispatch team visited the surgery on Wednesday, the dental surgeon had not returned to work after the ordeal.

“He doesn’t have a phone or his cards, so he is still sorting those things out,” a staff member said.

In Southernwood, robbers took off with an undisclosed amount of cash from the John Forbes pharmacy. No injuries were reported.

Store manager Andiswa Ganyile said they’d had to beef up their security after the incident.

“We’ve been robbed many times here and it has been happening for months. Not just here, either.

“They targeted our tills and they took money.

“These things normally happen between 9pm and 10pm before we close.

“We now have a number of security guards posted here and there to watch over things, both inside and outside.

“We have had to change the setup and install a security door because they used the window to see what was happening inside.

“If it means safety for our staff and patients then that means we don’t mind paying that much.”

She said other pharmacies in the CBD had also been targeted in the past month.

“There is a pharmacy in Berea, and there’s another one near the Oriental Plaza.”

A student pharmacist, working at a clinic in Southernwood, said most clinics and doctors’ surgeries were refusing entry to people wearing masks because of the robberies.

“I have been working here for four months, but I have been briefed about the security measures.

“Last year, there were lots of robberies, especially near John Muir.

“I think for some it is drugs [they’re looking for] because there’s a lot of partying here, with students, in central.

“We now have security in our medication section and we’ve always had good security outside.

“I’ve heard most places here have been robbed, so that makes you unsettled.

“I just hope the police can find these people.”

The Dispatch team visited other doctors and pharmacies that had been robbed but they did not want to comment.

Last year, robbers struck the practice of well-known Mdantsane medical practitioner Dr Sibulele Mtshatsheni and held staff at gunpoint.

The robbers left with bank cards, cellphones and cash.

Asked about the case involving the Every Smile dentistry on Friday, police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala said the recent string of robberies of healthcare workers had put detectives on high alert.

She confirmed a case had been opened and the docket was being handled by the provincial serious and organised crime unit.

“A case was opened at the Vulindlela police station and such cases are now being handled by the provincial office.”

The Health Professions Council of SA urged law enforcement agencies to deal with criminality and launch preventive measures to prevent similar incidents in future.

Council spokesperson Priscilla Sekhonyana said they were willing to support any affected doctors.

“Any assault on health professionals is an assault on an important resource, which sadly will undermine the provision of quality healthcare to communities.

“With the epidemics facing the country, SA cannot afford any disruptions or acts that undermine the important work health professionals are doing.”

Last week in Nelson Mandela Bay, unions threatened to withdraw staff from healthcare facilities unless security was stepped up to counter the targeting of public health facilities.

Last Monday, the Dispatch’s sister publication, The Herald, reported on two emergency medical services employees being robbed at gunpoint at a clinic by six assailants, who also attempted to steal the ambulance.

Health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the department was gravely concerned about the recent spate of criminality targeting health professionals.

“We have to ensure this does not bring the healthcare services to its knees,” he said.