The case against the 50-year-old man accused of assaulting two staff members at the Thabong Clinic in Welkom remains under investigation, and he will again appear in the Welkom Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 February. This follows his appearance on Monday 26 January.
The disgruntled patient reportedly assaulted both a male filing clerk and a female clinic manager on 15 January.
Sgt. Palesa Thabana, spokesperson for the Lejweleputswa District Police, said the assailant had been arrested and later released on notice to appear on 26 January.
He is charged with common assault. 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 patient 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.
■ 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, claiming that he was not provided with medication the previous day.
The Welkom Regional Court sentenced Mbele to 18 months’ imprisonment after finding him guilty on two counts of common assault, two counts of crimen injuria, one count of malicious damage to property, as well as one count of trespassing.
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