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A 26-year-old doctor was shot during a burglary at a Free State hospital on Tuesday evening. (Luba Lesolle/Gallo Images)
- A doctor was shot when burglars targeted a Free State hospital.
- The doctor was injured and immediately rushed to surgery.
- The provincial health department said the incident will be investigated.
A doctor has been shot during a "violent burglary" at a Free State hospital.
The 26-year-old doctor was shot at Mofumahali Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital in QwaQwa on Tuesday at about 20:00.
Free State Health MEC Mathabo Leeto said she had been left reeling with shock after the news of the shooting.
"In an unexpected violent burglary incident at the secured doctors' quarters at the hospital precinct by unknown assailants, a doctor fell victim of this near-fatal shooting. The doctor was rushed into theatre and the good news is that none of his vital organs were affected and he is now recovering at the ICU," she said.
Leeto added that the incident would be "thoroughly investigated" to allow the provincial health department to tighten security at its facilities.
"All life is precious and violent crime is a negative indicator to our development as a country. We condemn this shooting incident and many other incidents of violent crime in any part of our society," she said.
"We thank God for preserving the life of our doctor."
READ | Eastern Cape nurses call for protection after deadly robbery at a rural clinic
The latest shooting comes only weeks after a security guard was shot dead during a robbery at an Eastern Cape clinic.
He was shot during a robbery at Maqanyeni Clinic in Ngqeleni in April, after four men attacked him and his female colleague at the clinic.
The guard's colleague was not injured.
In February, a nurse and a security guard were tied up for several hours during a robbery at a clinic in Zigodlo near Qonce, also in the Eastern Cape.
Gunmen robbed the facility of computers, a television and a photocopy machine.
