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Clinic reopens after threat

Nurses returned to a rural Transkei clinic following a public apology from a man who threatened to shoot them over his girlfriend's HIV test result.

The man, a shopkeeper, made the apology at a community meeting convened by Eastern Cape health department officials.

Nurses fled the Qhasa clinic in the Flagstaff area on Monday when he threatened to shoot them, and demanded R10,000 compensation for defamation, after hearing the result of an HIV test his girlfriend took there.

An official said about 2500 people, including traditional leaders, attended the meeting.

"The perpetrator was also present. He apologised in front of the crowd," he said.

Man to take HIV test

Officials had also insisted the man himself take an HIV test, and surrender his gun, which was unlicensed, to police.

When police arrived to collect the gun they arrested him.

At a separate meeting, the nurses had agreed to go back to work, which they did on Thursday afternoon.

The official said the department had hired the services of a security company, which would provide a guard at the clinic from Thursday night. (Sapa / October 2010)

HIV/Aids Centre

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