Deadly shooting at SA hospital

2007-10-19 14:53

Johannesburg - Four staff at a hospital in South Africa were killed on Friday when a sacked employee went on a shooting spree shortly after being handed his dismissal notice, police said.

The victims of the shootings at Seshego hospital, near Polokwane in northern Limpopo province, were the chief executive officer, the human resource manager, the administration officer and a fourth, unidentified employee.

"The man had been sacked and handed his dismissal notice," Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo said.

"He left the hospital but returned later, telling the security guards that he had been called to fetch something."

While he was being escorted into the administration area, he then overpowered one of the guards, seizing his weapon, Mojapelo added.

A spokesperson for the provincial health department said the gunman, who was employed as a driver, had been fired for misconduct after being involved in a hit-and-run accident while driving a car which he had stolen from the hospital.

"He had a case of misconduct after stealing a company car. He hit and killed a pedestrian and ran away," said spokesperson Phuti Seloba.

"He was traced and we suspended him and found him guilty.

"Today he was coming to collect his dismissal letter when he shot the four employees".

South Africa has one of the worst crime rates in the world, recording about 50 murders each day.

- AFP