Security firm hired to protect nurses

Monwabisi Goqwana, Eastern Cape Health MEC, has increased security at the hospital

Monwabisi Goqwana, the Eastern Cape health MEC, has beefed up security at the Zitulele Hospital at Mqanduli in the Transkei region to protect 21 nurses from KwaZulu-Natal following threats to their lives.

Goqwana says a private security firm has been hired to protect the nurses who were called in to help with staff shortages at the hospital. They have received threats from their peers and members of the community who are unhappy with their presence at the institution.

On Tuesday police were called in after local residents and workers at the hospital threatened to kill one of the nurses. Goqwana has assured both the community and health workers that the hospital will not be closed.

"We don't want to set a precedent because somebody has a problem. We are going to make sure that the nurses are secured, doctors are secured and we are going to increase the security of the place.

"The community also has condemned this behaviour. They must accept that the people who are professionals will not only come from this area. Cleaners and gardeners will come from the local area," said Goqwana.