SAMA demands action after doctor and companion stabbed at Rietvlei Hospital in KZN
After a brutal stabbing at Rietvlei Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, SAMA has called for urgent investigations and enhanced security for healthcare workers.
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The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says it is gravely concerned about a doctor and a female companion who were brutally stabbed in the doctors’ quarters at Rietvlei Hospital in Umzimkhulu, southern KwaZulu-Natal.
SAMA said the alleged perpetrator is reported to be a member of the hospital’s security personnel, which has raised serious concerns about internal security protocols and staff vetting processes.
“This incident underscores a troubling reality that healthcare workers in South Africa continue to face escalating levels of violence while performing their duties.
The organisation is urgently calling on Rietvlei Hospital leadership to conduct a full investigation into the breach, provide a comprehensive report on actions taken since the incident, and implement a clear consequence management plan.
It has requested that these items be addressed by 28 November 2025, along with a confirmed timeline for an immediate risk assessment to determine whether additional security measures are required.
It said the incident comes after other violent incidents against healthcare professionals.
- In January 2025, two nurses from Ga-Chuene Clinic in Limpopo were abducted, brutally assaulted, and sexually violated while on night duty.
- In the North West Province, nurses and security personnel at Bapong Community Health Centre were attacked during community unrest.
- Gauteng healthcare workers continue to report physical assaults, including punching, biting and being choked by patients, particularly in mental health wards.
- In Mpumalanga, the Public Servants Association (PSA) raised alarm after armed intruders entered Barberton Hospital during the night shift, threatening both nurses and doctors.
SAMA said fear among healthcare workers may lead to resignations, reduced service hours, or reluctance to work night shifts - deepening existing staffing shortages and compromising patient care.
“SAMA calls on the National and Provincial Departments of Health to implement strengthened security measures, particularly in rural and high-risk facilities, and to ensure proper vetting and training of contracted security staff.
“We also urge hospital leadership to conduct regular security audits, improve infrastructure such as lighting and access control, and ensure that urgent incidents are met with rapid response. Law enforcement must prioritise cases involving attacks on healthcare workers, ensuring that perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted without delay.”
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health stated that it has been alerted to the incident and is awaiting a report from the hospital.