Hello 

Create Profile

Creating your profile will enable you to submit photos and stories to get published on News24.


Please provide a username for your profile page:

This username must be unique, cannot be edited and will be used in the URL to your profile page across the entire 24.com network.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.









Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.

 
 

Hospital rats eat cop

2003-03-09 11:34
line

Port Elizabeth - Huge rats at Livingstone hospital are biting chunks of flesh from corpses, and from children at the burns unit.

A widow whose dead husband was chewed by rats while in the hospital mortuary is considering taking legal action after finding the corpse had been violated.

Nonyameko Pono, 50, of New Brighton, wept when she saw how the rats had gnawed the flesh off the face of her husband, Mbuyiselo Phillip Pono, 52, a former policeman.

The Sunday Sun has learnt that Pono's corpse was the sixth body to be attacked by rats in the morgue.

Livingstone hospital medical superintendent Fred Rank said the rat attack on Pono's body had been reported to him, and investigations were under way.

"There is a big problem with rats coming into the hospital," said Rank, "but we are doing something about it."

The health department is planning to hire a company to kill the rats with poison.

Pono retired from the police service due to ill-health in 1997.

He was admitted to the hospital on February 22 and died on the same day. His funeral was held on Saturday.

Pono said she was shocked when a local undertaker told her that her husband's corpse had been chewed by rats.

"The undertaker said he noticed that my husband's face was damaged and was told rats had eaten off portions of the flesh."

Bisho legislature's health standing committee visited the hospital this week and agreed it was possible for rats to gain access to the fridges.

They recommended that the health department buy new fridges that cannot be entered by rats.

Committee chairperson Mahlubandile Qwase said they were told at the hospital that the rats chewed the rubber on the fridges' doors in order to enter them.

He however said buying new fridges would have "financial implications" each unit could cost as much as R67 000.

The rats came from drains near the hospital and were also a major problem for the nearby industrial area.

"The whole area is infested with rats," said Qwase.

"The problem needs a multi-pronged approach."

inside news24

 
1 of 10

140
1

Latest comment in South Africa

Scouter says... And to think, Abe got a bullet for uttering such a truth. Read the article...

 
Traffic
Lottery
 
  • Friday Carletonville - 10:01 AM
    Road name: N14
    ROAD CLOSED due to a large sink-hole between the two Carletonville exits - traffic is diverted onto a local bypass route
  • Sunday Volksrust - 07:33 AM
    Road name: N11 Both Ways
    Stop / go controls for construction works at Majuba Pass - expect delays between Volksrust and Newcastle
  • Monday Centurion - 15:41 PM
    Road name: Jean Avenue
    ROAD CLOSED between Rabie Street and Gerhard Street for sink hole repair works
 
More traffic reports...
 

Jobs [change area]

Cars[change area]

HYUNDAI

Atos 1.1 Prime GLS 5-dr MY07
2006
R 54,990.00

VOLKSWAGEN

Polo Vivo 1.6 Base 5-dr
2011
R 129,500.00

BMW

320i E90 MY07
2008
R 144,995.00

Property [change area]

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Romance at the President

Spend two nights at the Protea Hotel President in Cape Town from R2601 per person sharing. Includes return flights, taxes, car hire and accommodation. Book Now!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

The Big Mama Sale

The Big Mama Sale is now on. Get up to 80% off Books, Music, DVDs, Games, Electronics, Toys & Gifts. Shop now.

Electronics on Sale

Up to 80% off electronics + 24hr delivery. Shop now.

50% Off Educo toys

Join the Big Mama Sale madness at kalahari.com and get 50% off all Educo toys for your kids. Terms and conditions apply. Shop now.

Books on Sale

Up to 80% off books & 1000s Of books to choose from. First come, first served. While stocks last. Shop now.

Blu-ray special offer

Buy 10 blu-rays and get a free Sony blu-ray player. Offer valid while stocks last. Shop now.

OLX Free Classifieds [change area]

Drain & Pipe Inspection System

For Sale, Garage Sale in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 21

2011 Mazda 2 1.5 Dynamic

Vehicles, Cars in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 22

Estimator

Jobs, Engineering Jobs - Architecture Jobs in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 21

The Big Mama Sale

The Big Mama Sale is now on. Get up to 80% off Books, Music, DVDs, Games, Electronics, Toys & Gifts. Shop now.

Visit www.kalahari.com for millions of books, music, DVDs, games & more!

Apple iPhone 4 16GB

iPhone 4 at a glance. FaceTime. Video calling is a reality. See...

From R5699.00

I'm shopping for:

A local community where you can meet people, upload photos, videos and loads more...
There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.