Pretoria - The Junior Doctors Association of South Africa (Judasa) has declared 15 June 2011 a National Day of Mourning, where doctors will be taking to the streets demanding improved security at public hospitals.
Judasa has called on every doctor concerned with their own life and well-being to join them on the day as they will be marching to Parliament in Cape Town, the Union Buildings in Pretoria and the Provincial Legislature in Durban.
The call follows the brutal murder of Dr Senzosenkosi Mkhize, who was stabbed to death on Tuesday by a patient at Middelburg Hospital while on duty attending to a patient.
Judasa spokesperson, Dr Tende Makofane, said they welcomed the arrest of the man who allegedly stabbed and killed Mkhize. However, he warned that they have run out of patience with the crime committed against doctors at public hospitals, including killing, rape and mugging.
"The recent slaughtering of Dr Mkhize is the last straw. We can no longer afford to wait until another doctor's life is put in danger at their place of work. Our public hospitals are fast becoming homicide havens.
"We call on all members of the public to support these marches and not allow anyone else of the already few doctors to be slain in our unsafe public hospitals. Not one health professional must again die in the hands of criminals and rogue elements," said Mafokane.
The patient accused of stabbing Mkhize was arrested on Wednesday evening in Mhluzi township near Middelburg. He is expected to appear in court soon.
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has directed MECs for Health and Social Development, Education, Safety and Security and Public Works to meet and chart a process to review existing security measures at all health facilities.
Mpumalanga Health and Social Development Department MEC, Dikeledi Mahlangu, who visited the hospital on Wednesday, said the provincial government vehemently condemned the killing of Mkhize, adding that the MECs will come up with a plan, to further prevent occurrences of this nature.
