IZINYOKA have invaded hospitals in the Eastern Cape as it appears to be an organised syndicate.
A backup generator was used for four days at the Dora Nginza Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay after cables were stolen and vandalised on Thursday, 25 January.
“After days of operating with generators because of cable theft, electricity has been restored at the Dora Nginza Hospital. Parts of the hospital, which services Nelson Mandela Bay, and parts of Sarah Baartman and Chris Hani were plunged into darkness when thugs stole electrical cables on 25 January,” Eastern Cape Department of Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said.
This is the second hospital cable thieves have targeted since early November 2023, as the izinyoka syndicate also targeted the Frere Hospital in East London.
On Wednesday, 1 November 2023, Frere Hospital staff arrived at work for two consecutive days with some copper cable pipes stolen between John Tremble Hall and Nerina house.
Services were disrupted at Dordrecht Hospital after copper piping was stolen, and the Marjorie Parrish TB Hospital in Port Alfred was plunged into darkness after electrical cables were stolen.
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Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth has condemned the vandalism at public health facilities.
“We are calling on communities to protect these facilities because they are there to service them. It cannot be correct that thugs target our facilities and healthcare workers. When our facilities are vandalised or when healthcare workers are robbed, it’s communities that suffer. So, we urge communities to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that thugs are brought to book.
“We are grateful that no one lost their life as a result of this thuggery, which we condemn in the strongest words possible. We thank the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for working around the clock to ensure that the electricity was restored,” she said.
Kupelo said during the four days without electricity, the department used generators at the casualty theatre.
