Shock at Caluza Clinic: How the armed robbery raises employee safety concerns

Following an armed robbery that occurred on November 29, 2025, the Public Servants Association (PSA) is very concerned about the safety of workers at the Caluza Clinic in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Pretending to be sick, two men went through the gate.

They robbed the security personnel at gunpoint as soon as they were given permission to enter the building. The robbers shot one of the security guards for refusing to give up his cell phone before running away.

The victim was taken to the hospital. Patients and staff are traumatized and afraid for their lives as a result of this incident. Health professionals and the communities they serve are impacted by the alarming trend of violent attacks on public health facilities in South Africa. The violent armed robbery at Caluza Clinic is vehemently condemned in the PSA.

''The PSA has repeatedly raised concerns about deteriorating safety conditions at public health clinics and hospitals, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where such incidents have occurred at various facilities during 2025. Health workers have become soft targets in their place of work and face hijackings, robberies, rape, and threats of violence,'' the PSA said.

Critical care is being jeopardised and essential services are being interrupted,  the association added

"The PSA calls on the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health to put in place more stringent security measures to safeguard workers, particularly on weekends, and to offer counseling to those who are impacted.''

In order to stop similar incidents in the future, the PSA also calls on the South African Police Service to step in and conduct routine surveillance at public health facilities. The PSA reaffirms the Union's dedication to protecting healthcare workers' health and safety.