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The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) calls on the Provincial Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu to take urgent steps to protect healthcare workers.

This follows a string of recent incidents, including the burning of a Department of Health (DoH) vehicle, the vandalising of two more, threats to necklace a health official, the extortion of money, the abduction of health officials and the theft of power cables and equipment.

The growing number of criminal incidents perpetuated against health officials and facilities must be taken as a serious warning by this ANC-run provincial government. In this regard, the MEC needs to be proactive rather than reactive.

This Department provides an essential service to vulnerable citizens. Rising levels of violent protest and lawlessness and government’s apparent inability to curb this must be given urgent attention.

Until our province and our country becomes an environment that is not compromised by anarchy and criminal activity, there can be no reaching our goals in terms of providing Universal Health Care.

The people of KZN have a role to play in protecting our health officials and institutions from criminal elements. We encourage them to work with SAPS and law enforcement agencies to protect our assets by identifying those involved. We also call on SAPS to double their efforts against those who perpetuate these heinous acts.

The DA will continue to pressure MEC Simelane-Zulu on this issue. Our province cannot be held hostage by criminals.

Issued by Edwin Baptie, MPL - DA KZN Spokesperson on Health