Media statement.
Tuesday, 06 October 2026.
MMABATHO โ The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in North-West condemns in the strongest terms the two regrettable incidents where nurses were abused and physically assaulted in two separate incidents at two community health centres on Sunday and Monday morning in Mahikeng and Schweizer-Reneke respectively.
DENOSA calls on the community members to stand up and to protect their community health centres from unbecoming behaviour from alcohol- and gangsterism- induced acts of violence, as the closure of such facilities deprives the same communities of their rightful access to health services.
At around 00h15 on Monday morning, 05 October, at Montshiwa Community Health Centre in Mahikeng where three female nurses were on duty, in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, a 35-year-old patient presented himself at the facility with a stab wound. When nurses assisted him in dressing the wound, the patient became violent and assaulted the 34-year-old female nurse physically.
In a separate incident, at around 04h00am on Sunday morning, at Mamusa Community Health Centre in Schweizer-Reneke in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, a gang of more than 60 people with pangas and guns, accompanying a friend with stab wound, overpowered security at the gates and stormed into the centre and caused commotion inside the facilityโs trauma unit, throwing down medical machines. The unruly crowd yelled insults at the staff and threatened nurses with violence and ordered them to treat their companion, saying if their friend died the nurses will follow him.
These two incidents paint a bleak and hopeless situation about the compromised safety of healthcare workers, especially during the weekends, which in the end has negative effects on access to healthcare by community members. The two facilities in the different districts no longer operate night shift due to this violent behaviour, as operations had to be suspended.
DENOSA calls on community leaders and organisations like SANCO to protect communitiesโ amenities and control unbecoming behaviour, because facilities become inaccessible to the sickly due to a wayward and irresponsible behaviour by rogue elements within the very same communities.
As an organisation for nurses, DENOSAโs position is very clear that healthcare services must be easily accessible to communities all the time and closer to their homes. This access, however, must not be at the expense of the safety of the healthcare workers, and, in cases where the safety of nurses is compromised, it serves no purpose to prolong their exposure to danger by keeping facilities open if their children and relatives will have lose their parents and family members.
End.
Issued by DENOSA in North-West.
For more information, contact:
Reuben Molete, DENOSA Provincial Secretary.
Mobile: 071 645 6336.
Mzwakhe Seleke, DENOSA Provincial Chairperson.
Mobile: 071 643 6240.
