News

Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital management today thanked the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their swift action in investigating a credit card theft and apprehending a suspect.

“At the end of last year, we were most concerned when it was reported to us that the credit card of a patient had been stolen, despite the extensive security measures in place within our hospital,” says Heinrich Venter, general manager of Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital.

A case of theft was opened with the SAPS, and the hospital offered its full co-operation to the police in the investigation. The hospital provided security footage from the time of the theft to the police and, together with other video footage taken, a nurse employed as contract worker through an agency was identified and was arrested soon afterwards when the individual next reported for work.

It has since emerged that a second individual was involved. However, this person is not known to Netcare and was not working at the Netcare hospital in uMhlanga.  

“Our sincere thanks to the SAPS for everything they have done and for apprehending the suspect so quickly. This sends a clear message that there is zero tolerance for criminality in our hospital, which is a healing environment,” Venter says.

“We always advise patients to hand in their valuables to security personnel for safekeeping, which is done in accordance with our strict chain of custody paperwork, to minimise the possibility of theft or loss in our hospital.”

Ends

Issued by:    Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital
Contact:    Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Meggan Saville or Estene Vorster
Telephone:    (011) 469 3016
Email:    [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]