Siyavuya Mzantsi
SERVICES at the Elsies River Day Hospital were suspended yesterday and patients diverted to Tygerberg Hospital after two security guards were stabbed at the facility.
One of the guards sustained a head wound. The alleged gang-related attack took place at about 11pm on Sunday night.
The Hanover Park Day hospital and clinic were also forced to shut down and staff moved to the Newfields Village satellite facility amid gang violence in that area late last year.
Two people, a 23-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man, were expected to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court today in connection with the attack on the guards.
Provincial health department spokesperson Emerantia Cupido said the department invested a lot of budget on measures to improve safety and security.
Elsies River ward councillor Christopher Jordaan said he had visited the hospital at about 4pm and there was no one at the facility. He said he had gone to get more details about the the attack on the security guards.
“The situation in this area in quite volatile and we can’t get away from that. It is like any other area on the Cape Flats where there is violence. We are faced with many social challenges. Violence occurs on a daily basis and it is mostly young people who are engaged in violence,” he said.
Jordaan said law enforcement agencies were present in the area, but violence happened “in a split second” and a number of people had been arrested.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed two cases of attempted murder were under investigation.
“According to reports, a 28-year-old victim and his colleague were stabbed by a female and male suspects aged 23 and 32,” said Rwexana.