The clinic reopened on Tuesday, 14 January following temporary closure due to a disturbing incident on Friday, 10 January.
The health facility in Ga-Chuene Village outside Polokwane, Limpopo saw its doors close after two nurses were allegedly robbed, abducted and raped while on night duty.
However, the clinic will only provide day services from Monday to Friday and remain closed on weekends.
Limpopo health spokesman Neil Shikwambana said this decision prioritises the safety of personnel and acknowledges the ongoing risks faced by staff and villagers.
He said:
“The department has taken this step after thorough consultation with staff, unions, the clinic committee and local traditional authorities. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of healthcare providers and villagers.”
Shikwambana said the department recognises that the current environment poses challenges, and the safety of the staff remains important.
Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego has also instructed her executive management to re-evaluate security issues at all health facilities, especially those that provide night duty and then report back to her.
She said the recent attack and many others that have occurred before are a serious setback and an undoing of ensuring communities have clinics that serve them 24 hours.
“Let us safeguard our frontline warriors and stop the criminality against healthcare workers. The Chuene Clinic attack is not just an assault on healthcare workers.”
“It’s an attack on the very foundation of our public health system and the trust that should exist between communities and those who serve them,” she said.
Mashego said they’re committed to continuously improving their security systems to ensure that all healthcare workers are protected.
“I’m calling on all traditional leaders to healers, faith-based organisations to non-government organisations, the business community, as well as civic organisations for their involvement to ensure we defeat this satanic scourge,” she said.
Villagers said the closure of the clinic on weekends will impact them negatively, especially the poor as they don’t have the means to travel to other areas for healthcare services.
