Non-striking nurse stabbed in KZN

2010-09-03 14:39

Durban - A non-striking nurse has been stabbed at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, health MEC Dr Sbongiseni Dhlomo said on Friday.

She was stabbed at the Northdale Hospital, in Pietermaritzburg, on Thursday night, and was now being treated at the same hospital, he said.

"This is very disturbing because there is no need to intimidate and injure those who don’t want to take part in the strike," said Dhlomo, who was still waiting for more information about the stabbing.

He was speaking after visiting the KwaDukuza Hospital, outside Durban, where he received a report on the kidnapping of a non-striking nurse, allegedly by striking public servants, last week.

"I believe that the police can still arrest the perpetrators," he said.

"It is important to deal with this issue because the story has even hit the international news. People want to know what happened and what will happen to the culprits," he said.

Earlier this week, the police said the nurse had refused to make an official statement.

Worker found guilty

The health department said this was because her life and those of her family were under threat.

The public sector strike has been characterised by intimidation.

On Friday, the office of Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said an education department employee had been found guilty of intimidation.

Fiona Kotze, aged 42, of the Bluff, was found guilty of two counts of intimidation on Wednesday and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, suspended for five years, said ministerial spokesperson Zweli Mnisi.

Kotze, who works at a primary school in the Bluff, made two threatening phone calls in relation to the public service strike, he said.

In her first call, to an employee of the Bluff Medical Centre, in Brighton Beach, on August 24, she demanded that the facility immediately close its doors.

SANDF helps out

In her second call, to the principal of the Glen Ardle School, in Brighton Beach, on August 29, she demanded that it close or risk being burnt to the ground.

"While the South African Police Services recognises and respects the citizen’s right to strike, it does not condone any form of violent conduct, intimidation and vulgarity," Mnisi said.

After his visit on Friday, Dhlomo said it was heartening to see matrons and South African National Defence Force members helping at KwaDukuza Hospital, one of the hospitals most affected by the strike.

"The maternity ward was fully functional, the emergency unit and the pharmacy were functioning."

He said the provincial government was pleased that HIV positive, diabetic and tuberculosis patients were getting their medication.

- SAPA