WELKOM – A 50-year-old man accused of assaulting two staff members at the Thabong Clinic in Welkom in the Free State, is expected to appear at the Welkom Magistrate’s Court today (Monday, 26 January).
The disgruntled civilian reportedly assaulted both a 37-year-old male filing clerk and a 46-year-old female clinic manager on 15 January.
Sgt. Palesa Thabana, spokesperson for the Lejweleputswa District Police, said the assailant was arrested and later released on notice to appear in court today. He is charged with common assault for attacking the two employees of the clinic – a primary healthcare facility belonging to the Free State Department of Health.
An investigation by the police is continuing in parallel with that of the department.
According to information received by department spokesperson Bonny Sehularo, the attack arose during a routine biometrics and file-issuing process, when a misunderstanding led to the 50-year-old man becoming aggressive.
The brawl reportedly started when the disgruntled man physically assaulted the filing clerk, and later assaulted the clinic manager who attempted to intervene and resolve the matter. It is understood that the attacker had gone to the clinic for routine treatment.
The incident followed another that occurred at the facility in July 2024. It involved a disgruntled parolee, Tshediso Mbele, who poured a bucket of faeces over a healthcare worker. He claimed that the employee of the clinic had not provided him with medication the previous day.
The Welkom Regional Court sentenced Mbele to 18 months’ imprisonment after finding him guilty. He was found guilty on two counts of common assault, two counts of crimen injuria, one count of malicious damage to property, and one count of trespassing. Mbele had been released on parole at the time after serving part of a 15-year sentence for rape.
