Doctors, patients robbed at gunpoint at medical centre

Doctors have come under siege again with medical centres being targeted by criminals under the guise of patients. 

Criminals swoop on unsuspecting doctors, patients and employees, hold them hostage before making off with their belongings, including cash, cellphones and laptops. 

In a recent incident that occurred on Monday, a surgery was hit in Protea North with the doctor robbed at gunpoint by three suspects – one of whom entered the surgery pretending to be a patient with a stomach complaint. 

Dr George Vilakazi on Thursday told Sowetan that the robbers made off with about R8,500, cellphones and jewellery. 

“He said he had a stomach bug because he was in KZN over the weekend where he attended a family gathering and suspected that he ate something that did not agree with his system,” said Vilakazi. 

Before seeing the suspect, Vilakazi said the suspect had inquired about the pricing and said he did not have money on him and was waiting for someone to bring it.

“He went outside and made a call and we heard him asking his compatriots where they were. He then returned and filled out the form and wrote his name as Thabo Mngomezulu. In the consulting room, I asked him to lay on the bed so that I could examine him but before I could do anything, he sprang to his feet and pulled out a firearm,” said Vilakazi. 

The doctor said he was initially shocked but contained his emotions and co-operated. 

He said the suspect and his accomplices rounded seven patients and three staff members before marshalling them into the consultation room. 

“They tied our hands with cable ties and took our belongings. They took my bank cards and went to the nearest ATM where they withdrew about R5,500 from my accounts. They also swiped alcohol amounting to R700 in Jabulani at a later stage,” said Vilakazi. 

He explained that the three assailants demanded bottles of Paracetamol painkillers but did not leave any medication in his store room. 

Although traumatised, he said they were not physically harmed by the assailants. 

“I am left dumbfounded because our practices are closer to our communities so that we can assist them in times of need,” said Vilakazi. 

His was not the only practice hit recently. 

A dental surgery a few kilometres away was recently robbed when criminals made off with an undisclosed amount of money, cellphones and other valuables. 

Police spokesperson Sgt Vincent Mashiteng confirmed that cases of robbery were being investigated but said no arrests had been made. 

Last year, Sowetan reported on the increase in the number of robberies taking place at surgeries and medical centres in Soweto. 

The National Healthcare Professionals Association’s secretary general, Dr Prudence Buthelezi, said they were concerned about the number of medical practitioners who had fallen prey to robberies while attending to patients.