Drastic increase in gunshot victims putting strain on Cape’s major hospitals

In light of the gang violence happening in the Cape flats, there has been an increase in gun wounded patients being admitted to government hospitals. With the increase in this means less room for other trauma victims as hospitals attend to the gun wounded victims first.

The Health MEC Nomafrench Mbomba says there has been a 100% in these cases. Studies have reported that Western Cape trauma centre used to report 37 gun wound victims but now that number has increased drastically to about 73 cases in a month. Tygerberg Hospital being one of the main public hospitals in the Western Cape has been treating about 107 gun wound victims per month since the year commenced. MEC Mbomba says “80, 76% of these gun violence related gun wounds and deaths have occurred in the metro heath district with Khayelitsha, Parow and Delft being the top 3 places. Tygerberg Hospital has been experiencing pressure because it is the main hospital close to the areas affected by the gun violence.

Last year the Groote Schuur hospital combined with Tygerberg hospital had reported over 2300 people who have died due to gun related cases over the last yea rand most of the people where from around the Cape Flats areas.

By: Chuma Matiwane