Cuban doctor robbed in her hospital flat
Guards strike let thugs to walk in
“I opened my eyes and there they were, holding guns and wearing balaclavas. I thought I was dreaming, within seconds I realised I was being attacked.”
This is how a Cuban medical doctor who fell victim to crime at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital recalled her ordeal.
Aymayasil Padilla, 35, a neurologist who came to South Africa in November 2016 was attacked by two gun wielding men at the hospital on Tuesday.
The attackers broke into her apartment, assaulted her and took her laptop, cellphone and undisclosed amount of money.
The shaken Padilla told Sowetan she was left traumatised and feared returning to her apartment. Before coming to the country, Padilla said she did her own research about the crime situation in SA as she was worried about her personal safety.
During the attack, Padilla said she cried as she feared falling victim to rape as well.
“I took a blanket, covered my face and started crying. I was expecting the worst.”
The gunmen hit her with the butt of the firearm when she screamed for help.
“They said I must keep quiet, I tried but it was difficult. I was shivering,” she said.
The doctor said she would not go back to the apartment as she feared for her life.
“That area is always dark, I always leave my bathroom lights on because I am not feeling safe.”
Padilla is one of several foreign specialist doctors deployed in the province due to severe shortage of locally trained neurologists.
The hospital’s spokesperson David Makhoba blamed the “unfortunate” incident on the strike by security guards who allegedly had not been paid for two months by their employer, Tshireletso Security.
The company had not been paid by the North West health department. The department has since paid the security firm.
“We had minimum incidents but this one was a shock,” Makhoba said. “We did not anticipate that people will go to the house and rob her.”
He said the hospital was trying its best to beef up security and get counselling for Padilla.
“We will find her an alternative accommodation where she will be safer.”
Makhoba said they would also provide patrols outside residences at the hospital.
The hospital had been without security for a period of a week as the guards were on strike. The guards trickled back to work from Tuesday, after the department paid the security firm.
North West police spokesperson Captain Amanda Funani said they had opened a case of house robbery but no one had been arrested.