By Kopano Dibakwane
The arrest of four suspects aged between 17 and 21 years, in connection with the alleged attack on staff and destruction of property at Carolina hospital, was welcomed by Mpumalanga MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini.
The suspects were reportedly arrested on Friday by the anti-aging unit of the South African Police Service(SAPS).
Their arrest follows widespread outcry from various senior leaders of society, including the premier of Mpumalanga-Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, who mentioned the incident in her keynote address during the recent crime prevention summit held in Mbombela.
According to police information, the suspects were part of a group that went into Carolina hospital, vandalised hospital property, attacked the staff and robbing them of their personal belongings, including cellphones, in the early hours of Saturday 17 June.
The MEC thanked SAPS provincial commissioner, lieutenant-general Semakaleng Manamela, for deploying a strong team to work on the case.
” This shows that the SAPS values the lives of people and we are very grateful(to SAPS) for the arrest. Criminals must think twice before they consider attacking people especially in our health care facilities. We are hopeful that the courts will also play their role and ensure that the suspects are sentenced accordingly,” said MEC Manzini.
The provincial police commissioner echoed the sentiments by Manzini and warned against people who target health workers while performing their routine duties.
” We cannot allow health facilities, as well as the workers thereof, to be working in fear of lawless individuals who parade themselves as gangsters, thereby instilling fear amongst the communities. That will have to stop and it will never be allowed as long as we as the police are here. We will not rest until we bring each one of them to justice like we did with these four suspects,” said Manamela.
The four suspects were scheduled to appear before the Carolina magistrate’s court this week, facing charges of malicious damage to property, business robbery and possession of stolen property.
