Pixabay
A 17-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed two patients at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder.
Regional Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Phindi Mjonondwane says the teenager is currently in a place of safety until his next court appearance on the 18th of May.
The matter was remanded so that a psychological and criminal capacity assessment could be conducted on the suspect.
The teenager is alleged to have stabbed two pensioners aged 84 and 72 that shared the ward he was occupying. One pensioner died, the other was badly injured.
The circumstances that led to the stabbing are not yet clear.
The Democratic Alliance Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom, said the boy was a psychiatric patient.
“I am horrified at the murder of an 86-year-old patient allegedly by a 17-year-old mentally ill patient at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital last week on Friday. The suspect apparently managed to get hold of a sharp object to stab the man multiple times and also injure another elderly patient,” said Bloom.
“I have warned previously about inadequate facilities and security at this hospital, as there have been at least seven previous assaults by psychiatric patients. Answers are needed as to why the hospital still does not have a properly staffed and dedicated psychiatric ward.
"There needs to be a full investigation and the hospital management held accountable for this terrible incident. Patients go to the hospital to be healed, not killed.”
Bloom said the incident was yet another reason to replace the hospital CEO, Ruth Mabyana “as the hospital has been poorly managed, including jobs for pay scandal, since she was appointed six years ago when the hospital opened”.
- African News Agency
