AngloGold Ashanti Hospital in Carletonville on the West Rand has been vandalised and equipment stolen a month after its decommissioning.
A suspect is currently in police custody after being caught red-handed with stolen equipment by security personnel outside the hospital.
Gauteng health spokesperson, Kwara Kekana, says a search for two other accomplices is underway. “A case has been opened at the Carletonville Police Station,” says Kekana.
Kekana says the incident happened when the department was moving all the movable assets from the facility last week.
“The incident of theft happens at a time when the Gauteng Department of Health had commenced with the process to move equipment and machinery out of the facility.”
The culprits are said to have forcibly gained entry to the hospital, where they stole copper cables, gas stoves, monitors and vandalised two state-of-the-art digital x-ray machines.
“One suspect was caught red-handed while loading a bakkie with stolen property outside of the hospital premises while the other two fled,” said Kekana.
She added that the department’s asset management team is on site undertaking an inventory of both moveable and non-moveable assets to ascertain the extend of the damage and theft.
“The Department condemns the act of theft and vandalism. This robs the public of much needed and valuable healthcare equipment critical for the provision of services to communities,”
