Healthcare workers in Umlazi, south of Durban, say they are living in fear as violent crimes, including armed robberies and hijackings, target them at government clinics.
Workers at K Clinic and other facilities report being held at gunpoint, robbed, and even hijacked while on duty. The situation has become so dire that some staff are reluctant to report for work, while others are considering relocating from the area altogether.
Staff Traumatized, Services Disrupted
A representative from the Public Servants Association (PSA), revealed that a healthcare worker was recently hijacked inside a clinic, deepening anxieties among staff.
“Our members are really afraid to report for duty,” he said. “The manager of one clinic couldn’t come to work yesterday due to severe trauma.”
In some cases, employees have resorted to parking their cars at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital and using alternative transport to avoid being targeted near clinics.
Ambulances and Doctors Also Affected
The crime wave has not spared emergency services. Ambulances have been targeted, and doctors who previously visited clinics multiple times a week have stopped coming due to safety concerns.
“In the past six months, doctors are no longer visiting some of these clinics,” Lung said. Patients, too, have fallen victim, losing cell phones, money, and other belongings during robberies.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
The PSA has called on the provincial government, police, and community leaders to collaborate on improving security.
“We need a strategy—this isn’t just the police’s responsibility,” Lung stressed. “If workers now need armed escorts just to do their jobs, we’re diverting resources from healthcare to security.”
Local officials, including the MEC for Health, have acknowledged the crisis, agreeing that urgent action is needed. However, healthcare workers remain on edge, pleading for safer conditions so they can continue serving the community without fear.
As crime continues to disrupt essential health services, residents of Umlazi may face longer wait times and reduced access to care unless authorities take immediate steps to secure the clinics.