Residents angered by vandalism at EC hospital

MDANTSANE - The Cecelia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape will not fall prey to criminals.

That's the view from a local community forum after vandalism and cable theft negatively affected the facility's infrastructure.

READ: Cable theft | Calm restored after tense stand-off in Mdantsane

The Provincial Health Department was forced to move some patients to other facilities when the power went out.

Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth described the incident as premeditated murder because those behind it placed patients' lives at risk.

READ: Cable theft | Cecelia Makiwane Hospital vandalised

Now the community are fighting back with their local neighbourhood watch group joining in to catch the thieves.

The department says at least 120 acts of crime have taken place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro over the past 18 months.

* eNCA's Ronald Masinda reports.