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By Botho Molosankwe 
September 18, 2020
Johannesburg – Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize said he was shocked and dismayed at the “brutal murder” of Joburg anesthetist Dr. Abdulhay Munshi, who was killed in a hail of bullets on Wednesday.
The 57-year-old doctor and his colleague Professor Peter Beale are believed to have received death threats prior to the former’s alleged murder.
Since then, Beale has been taken to a safe haven for protection.
Mkhize said it was unthinkable that someone would consider taking the life of a healthcare worker when they are waging war against Covid-19.
“The Minister of Health, Dr. Zwelini Mkhize, has learned with shock and dismay of the death of Dr. Abdulhay Munshi, who was brutally murdered in an allegedly orchestrated attack on Wednesday afternoon.
“At a time when the safety and psychological well-being of our healthcare workers is in the spotlight, it is unthinkable that anyone would consider taking the life of a healthcare worker, people who have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
“We wish to convey our deepest condolences to Dr. Munshi’s family, his colleagues, friends and the medical fraternity as a whole,” the statement from Mkhize’s office said.
“We call on law enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to the books and face the full power of the law.”
Munshi was the co-defendant in Netcare’s wrongful death case with pediatric surgeon Beale after they were blamed for the death of 10-year-old Zayyaan Sayed following a routine laparoscopic operation at Netcare Park Lane Hospital last October. .
The two doctors received bail of R10,000 each and were expected to appear in court on 16 November.
Munshi was reportedly shot six in the back of the head after a vehicle collided with the back of his car while driving through Orange Grove, Joburg on Wednesday afternoon.
The president of the SA Medical Association (Sama), Dr. Angelique Coetzee, said that before Munshi’s death, he and Beale had received death threats. However, they did not take them seriously.
“The doctor (Munshi) and the pediatric surgeon (Beale) had received death threats before, but they didn’t take them seriously, I didn’t take them seriously. Dr. Beale mentioned it to me last week and I don’t even think he took it seriously, ”she said.
MESS
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