Doctors took to the streets of Motherwell on Monday in protest of the ongoing robberies of practices in the townships of Port Elizabeth. A total of 10 practices have been robbed in September alone. Subsequently, three practices have closed because of these crimes. Doctors are saying enough is enough.
It was a peaceful, dignified protest. Doctors from various townships of Port Elizabeth as well as patients and community members, marched in solidarity toward Motherwell Police Station. They held hands showing everyone that they are in the fight together.
Doctor Gavin April, an active member of this protest pleads with the community to help the police. “Patients, police doctors, we all have one thing in common. We belong to a greater community we cannot just depend on the police to look after us. As the community we have to be actively involved to assist the police to help us to make our society our environment safer. I call upon our community, you know who these criminals are. You know whose been robbing stores, whose been robbing surgeries, whose been harming and raping women. Stand up.”
A memorandum of the doctor’s concerns was given to the police. Within the memorandum was a plight for better police visibility, a comprehensive plan on how the police are going to deal with this problem and many more. Brigadier Ernie Neethling, the Station Commander at Motherwell Police Station says that the concerns of the protest have been heard and they are working hard to bring about justice.
The services the doctors render, lifts a burden for state hospitals and clinics. Without it, many people, especially those on chronic medications, will suffer.
