Hospital shooter in court
2007-11-12 14:49
Polokwane - A man accused of killing a hospital CEO and three other employees appeared briefly in court on Friday.
Sammy Tsamago, 27, who used to be a driver at Seshego Hospital near Polokwane, was not asked to plead when he appeared in the Seshego Magistrate's Court and he was remanded until January 18.
"He was not given bail because he failed to bring a legal representative, so his bail hearing was postponed to January 18," said Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo.
Tsamago faces four murder charges, as well as charges of robbery and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The murder victims were hospital CEO Martha Putuka, 46, labour relations officer Godfrey Maanda, 26, transport officer Godfrey Mamashela, 41, and Ndileni Rambuda, 47, of corporate services.
Tsamago is accused of shooting the four dead on October 19 after he had just been sacked for being involved in a hit-and-run accident in June.
He had been called to collect his dismissal letter at the hospital.
He is accused of overpowering a security guard who was escorting him to the administration offices and of using the guard's gun to commit the murders.
He then fled the scene by jumping over the hospital gates, but police were able to arrest him.
Limpopo health MEC Seaparo Sekoati later assured that all hospitals in the province had 24-hour security and that no guns were allowed onto hospital premises.
He said the department would conduct an internal investigation, however, to determine whether additional security checks were needed.
This is not the first time bullets have flown at the hospital. In May 2001 a retired soldier shot and killed his wife who was a laundry supervisor at the hospital before turning the gun on himself.