The Eastern Cape Health Department has welcomed the arrest of several people believed to be behind the cable theft that left Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London in darkness this week.
Health MEC, Nomakosazana Meth, says two suspects were apprehended by members of the community on Thursday night.
She says they were assaulted and ironically received treatment at the same hospital they are believed to have vandalised.
The Department says patients and corpses had to be moved after Tuesday night's theft.
A contractor was appointed and power was restored to the health facility.
"This is what active citizenry looks like so we are happy that the Mdantsane community took a stand and apprehended the alleged criminals. We applaud them for being patriots," Meth added.
She however cautioned communities not to take the law into their own hands.
Its not the first time a health facility in the province has fallen victim to criminal activity.
The MEC's spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase says thieves recently stole municipal electrical cables in Dordrecht, resulting in services to Dordrecht Hospital being affected, but that generators ensure that services do not grind to a halt.
He said the Fort Beaufort Hospital also fell prey to thugs who stole copper pipes from the theatre ablution block this week while the Marjorie Parrish TB Hospital in Port Alfred is currently dependent on its generator after electrical cables were stolen recently.
Ndamase says in the last 18 months there have been 120 burglaries at health facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay.
"Criminals in the Bay seem to be targeting air conditioners which affect services, as vaccines have to be moved to other facilities when this happens.
In the latest incidents, air conditioners were stolen at Algoa Park Clinic and at the clinic in Central," he said.
MEC Meth has meanwhile called on the SAPS to continue prioritising cases involving health facilities and health care workers.
She said vandalising and stealing electricity cables from hospitals was tantamount to premeditated murder because the ability of these facilities to deal with life-and-death situations was being compromised.
