Raped medical student lays charges

A Wits medical student, who was raped at the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg, has laid a charge against her alleged assailant.

Thembi Nkwashu, a police spokesperson, says the student gave a statement to the police late yesterday afternoon and laid a charge of rape. The girl says she was accosted by two people, and raped by one of them on Monday outside the blood bank in a secure area of the hospital.

Medical staff and students at the hospital, enraged by the incident, will march later today, demanding a safer work environment. Anna Sporaso, the march organizer, says the incident that happened at the hospital has left a lot of students and staff shocked and feeling very vulnerable and angry.

"So it is felt that we need an outlet to let the administration know, including Gauteng health that this is unacceptable, and that we are unable to fulfil our obligation to the patient working under such conditions," she said.