Traumatised staff members at the Joe Slovo Clinic in Nelson Mandela Bay are fearing for their lives following a brazen robbery at the facility on Thursday.
When armed suspects pounced on the clinic in Kwadwesi at around 14:00, it became the fourth clinic in the Metro to be robbed in just three months.
Police spokesperson, Captain Andre Beetge said five armed suspects first robbed the security guards at the gate of two cell phones.
According to Beetge, they then proceeded into the clinic building, fired a gunshot into the ceiling, and robbed nursing staff of another five cell phones.
"No persons were injured in the incident.
"A total of seven cellphones were robbed and the suspects fled from the scene on foot," said Beetge.
Eastern Cape Health Department spokesman, Mkhululi Ndamase condemned the incident and said the department would offer counselling to traumatised staff so that they will be able to deal with the ordeal.
Touching on safety measures in place at the clinic, Ndamase said there is a new perimeter gate at the clinic and an armed system with a panic button that is linked to 24 hour response that responded within ten minutes of the alarm being raised.
"The department will be strengthening perimeter fencing and increasing the number of CCTV cameras, as part of beefing up security at the facility and other facilities in the region."
"The department is committed to ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to strengthen security, within the available budget."
Ndamase further said the they welcome the government intervention to deploy SAPS specialised units as part of crime prevention in Nelson Mandela Bay and Mthatha.
"We are hopeful that with more boots on the ground, and the deployment of digital technologies, our facilities will not be targeted by ruthless criminals.
We are also making a call to communities to help protect our facilities and staff by working with law enforcement agencies so that those who rob our facilities and staff will be identified quickly."
The DA's shadow MEC for Health in the province, Jane Cowley said government institutions such as clinics and schools appear to be soft targets for crime.
"Criminals are fully aware that these facilities are inadequately fenced and do not have sufficient security. They also know that there will always be easy pickings, such as laptops, food, cell phones and drugs that can all be sold quickly for cash."
Cowley said she would write to the MEC for Health, Ntandokazi Capa, as well as Premier Oscar Mabuyane to request that an urgent strategic plan be put in place, in collaboration with sister departments such as the Department of Community Safety and the private sector security companies, to develop a two-pronged plan to end this scourge.
"Firstly, schools and clinics must have access to higher levels of security 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"Secondly, the South African Police Services (SAPS), along with other security stakeholders, must conduct a series of crime sweeps in the areas surrounding these facilities and be relentless in their pursuit of these criminals to bring them to book.
"We simply cannot allow criminals to destroy the very fabric of our society by targeting the government institutions that are in place to uplift and improve the lives of our citizens. Our nurses and teachers should be allowed feel safe at their workplace. They deserve no less," she said.
A case of business robbery was opened and is being investigated by SAPS Kwadwesi.
