Nurse accused of stabbing colleague

041 11.09.2014 Noxolo Mbangatha, a nurse outside Orlando Magistrates Court accused of stabbing her male colleague at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto. Picture: Bhekikhaya Mabaso

041 11.09.2014 Noxolo Mbangatha, a nurse outside Orlando Magistrates Court accused of stabbing her male colleague at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto. Picture: Bhekikhaya Mabaso

Published Sep 12, 2014

Share

Johannesburg - She walked straight into the accused box still dressed in her nursing uniform.

Carrying her belongings in both hands, the nurse from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital was making her first appearance at the Orlando Magistrate’s Court in Soweto.

The accused, Noxolo Patricia Mbangatha, spent Wednesday night at Diepkloof police station after she had allegedly stabbed a male nurse colleague while they were on duty.

The incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The victim was first treated at Bara before being transferred to Milpark Hospital, where he was said to be in a stable condition.

On Thursday, Mbangatha was granted R1 000 bail and the matter was postponed to September 19.

She told the court that she would apply for a legal aid lawyer to represent her.

Mbangatha is facing a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that she had no pending matters.

As Mbangatha walked into the courtroom, her colleagues who had arrived to support her were overwhelmed by emotion and shed a tear or two.

The police were yet to obtain a statement from the victim.

On Wednesday night, police spokeswoman Captain Phephi Matlou said it was still unclear what led to the stabbing.

Mbangatha was detained soon after 2pm on Wednesday.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesman Prince Hamnca confirmed the incident. He said the department’s team was working on the matter.

 

The Star understands that the accused works in the hospital’s emergency ward.

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa said it was embarrassing for professionals to involve themselves in such incidents.

Spokesman Simphiwe Gada said the victim was a member of their union. It was worrying that violent incidents involving nurses were taking place in hospitals.

Last week, a nurse at Helen Joseph Hospital was raped on the premises.

[email protected]

The Star

Related Topics: