_: The Gauteng Department of Health assures Leratong Hospital users that healthcare services are not disrupted following the shooting incident that took place this morning.

At about 5h30, a patient who was under police guard attempted to escape and as the police were trying to re-arrest him, shots were fired and he died on the scene, a few kilometers outside the hospital premises.

Also injured was a hospital employee, a driver who was in the car that police used to chase the escaping patient. He sustained minor bruises and was treated and discharged.The employee is also to receive counseling to be able to deal with the trauma.

The counseling service will also be extended to other staff members who were traumatised by the incident.

The department would like to re-iterate that security at the hospital based in Kagiso, West Rand is tight and that services are not disrupted as a result of this unfortunate incident.