TimesLIVE reports that two Soweto residents held Johannesburg city health officials hostage on Friday at the Protea South Clinic in Soweto, demanding to be treated.  

Staff reportedly remained at the primary healthcare clinic after the 4pm closing time on Friday as they waited for an ambulance to move a patient to a nearby hospital.  Health and social development MMC Mpho Phalatse indicated in a statement what transpired:  "It is alleged that two patients arrived at 4.10pm, demanding to be serviced.  The staff referred the two patients to Chiawelo CHC across the road, or gave them the option to come back the following day.  This request was declined, and the six staff members were held hostage in the facility by the two patients."  At 4.30pm, the staff called the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).  While waiting for the ambulance and the police to arrive, they decided to attend to the two patients.  The ambulance later arrived for the transfer.  Neither the staff nor the patients sustained injuries.

• Read the full original of the report on this story by Nico Gous at TimesLIVE

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