City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for community and health services Zahid Badroodien, has reportedly described the situation at various Cape Flats clinics as “untenable” after staff were robbed at gunpoint at Crossroads 1 clinic on Thursday.
According to Times Live, the armed robbers stormed the clinic, where 15 staff members and two security guards were on duty.
“The gunmen gained entry into the facility via the turnstile gate entrance and forced their way into the clinic. A clerk who had tried to keep a door closed was slapped as the robbers discussed whether to shoot him” Badroodien was quoted as saying.
He said the gunmen robbed patients and staff, before pistol-whipping the facility manager and taking her phone, laptop, dongle, jewellery and the clinic keys.
The clinic was temporarily closed following the incident.
‘We can’t have our staff putting their lives in danger’
Badroodien, said this year there had been just under 20 incidents and last year there were over 40 attacks, EWN reported.
“This is the tip of the iceberg and there are many incidents of threats of violence towards staff and patients, attempted robberies and burglaries and the wanton vandalism and destruction of property,” he said
In April, the Weltevreden Valley Clinic in Samora Machel closed its doors after staff were also robbed at gunpoint on March 31.
Badroodien said at the time that the decision to close the clinic was not easy, according to News24.
“It pains me to see the clinic closed, but we can’t have our staff putting their lives in danger. We have to be mindful of the services that are delivered by the City, and we will never expect our officials to go into violent situations,” Badroodien was quoted as saying at the time.
Weltevreden Valley Clinic remained closed to date.
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