Three KwaZulu-Natal nurses were hijacked and held hostage for several hours near Empangeni, health officials said on Thursday.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial health spokesman Desmond Motha said the incident happened on Wednesday.
The three nurses based at Ngwelezane Hospital had finished their outreach programme and were on their way back to their base in their Citroen van when they were overtaken by a maroon Toyota sedan.
“Soon after that this Toyota was blocking the road and three of its armed occupants jumped out and demanded the valuables from the nurses, taking their cellphones; bank cards; rings and necklaces.â€
The nurses were pushed into the centre of the van, which was then driven into the bush in the Ntabanana area where two more men joined the initial three attackers.
The equipment as well as medication and patients registers were then thrown away.
The van was then driven away and the three nurses were left with two of the men. Motha said that one of the nurses was asked for sex.
“She told him that she was HIV positive. Later on they were pushed deep into the bush and left on their own. They then walked until they saw some houses where they summoned help.â€
Motha said that KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo met with the nurses on Thursday.
A total of 18 provincial health vehicles have been hijacked in the Uthunguku District, which encompasses Richards Bay and Empangeni among others.
Comment could not immediately be obtained from police.
– African News Agency (ANA)
