A vehicle used to transport renal patients to and from their dialysis appointments was set alight in Mashishimale in Ba-Phalaborwa municipality on Friday during a protest over mining rights.
At the time, the vehicle was on its way to collect someone at Letaba Hospital.
Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba alleged that disgruntled community members set the vehicle alight.
"It was stopped by the protesting community who had barricaded the road. The staff members were forcefully evacuated from the car before it was set alight," she said.
The staff fled.
Law abiding citizens of Baphalaborwa help us & police to arrest those responsible for this barbaric act of criminality. Our renal patients from Maphuta Malatjie are stranded this morning. This vehicle assisted us in transporting outpatients from rural areas for dialysis ???????? pic.twitter.com/OnsyLNTGeF
— Dr Phophi Ramathuba (@PhophiRamathuba) November 3, 2023
She said their actions put the lives of renal patients at risk.
"We call upon responsible citizens to assist the police in bringing those responsible for this barbaric act to book," she said.
Police comment will be added once received.