Patient kills nurse

NURSE Livhuwani Thanyani was just a few minutes away from knocking off work when she was brutally murdered by a patient.

Daily Sun reported that the 52-year-old was allegedly killed by a patient in the maximum security ward of Hayani Psychiatric Hospital in Sibasa, outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo, on Thursday evening.

Livhuwani was busy preparing a routine report she had to finish before knocking off at 7pm when she was hit with an iron bar and died instantly.

Limpopo health MEC Phophi Ramathuba visited the nurse's family in Denzhe, outside Thohoyandou on Friday to pay respects.

"We are very worried about the spate of violence at our psychiatric facilities. It is a sad moment for us as the department to have to deal with the loss of our fellow employee,"said the MEC. "We will assemble a high-level investigative team to deal with the challenges faced at our psychiatric facilities. They will also be able to advise us on how to better deal with psychiatric patients as we strive to provide the best health services to the people of Limpopo."

The MEC said the department would provide the necessary support to Livhuwani's family and arrange counselling for the victim's traumatised children.

Livhuwani's son, Takalani (31) said his mum's death had come as a great loss.

"When we lost our dad in 2012, she stood in as father and mother. Now she is gone and a big void has been left in our hearts. This is the worst loss yet," he said.