A 26-year-old doctor was shot dead during a robbery at the Free State Hospital on Tuesday night. (Lubba Letsore/Gallo Images)
- A doctor was shot dead when a group of robbers targeted a hospital in the Free State.
- The doctor was injured and rushed to surgery.
- The state health department said the incident will be investigated.
A doctor was shot during a “violent robbery” at a Free State hospital.
The 26-year-old doctor was shot at around 8pm on Tuesday at Mofumahari Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital in Kwakwa.
Free State Health MEC Matabo Reet said he was shocked and shaken by news of the shooting.
“An unexpected and violent robbery by unknown assailants occurred in the guarded doctor's quarters on the hospital grounds, and a doctor was the victim of this fatal shooting. The doctor was rushed to the theatre, but… “The good news is that none of his vital organs were affected and he is currently recovering in the ICU,” she said.
Leet added that the incident will be “thoroughly investigated” so the state health department can increase security at the facility.
“Every life is precious and violent crime is a negative indicator for the development of our country. We condemn this shooting and the many other violent crime incidents that take place in all parts of society,” she said.
“Thank you God for saving our doctor's life.”
READ | Eastern Cape nurse seeks protection after robbery at rural clinic
The shooting comes just weeks after a security guard was shot dead during a robbery at a clinic in the Eastern Cape.
He was robbed at Maganyeni Clinic in Ngqeleni in April, when four men attacked him and a female colleague at the clinic and were shot.
The security guard's colleague was not injured.
In February, a robbery took place at a clinic in Zigodro, near Kwonse, also in the Eastern Cape, leaving a nurse and a security guard held captive for several hours.
The gunmen seized the premises, including computers, televisions and photocopiers.