|
|
|
|
|
28 July 2023
|
Two paramedics kidnapped at gunpoint, taken to a shack in the bushes, robbed and assaulted, Gauteng
Two paramedics responding to an emergency call in Mamelodi were kidnapped at gunpoint, taken to a shack in the bushes and then tied up and robbed on Saturday, 22 July 2023. According to Gauteng's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson, Tshepo Shawa, the paramedics were hijacked, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed of their personal cell phones and other working tools on Saturday.
At the time of the attack, the two, a man and a woman, were responding to a distress call from Nellmapius, near Mamelodi, of a 48-year-old who had collapsed. "An ambulance was dispatched to the area from the Mamelodi base and, on arrival in the vicinity of the address, two men waved to stop the crew. When the emergency responders stopped, the men pulled out firearms and forced them to drive to an unknown location" said Shawa.
Shawa added that the paramedics were taken to a shack in the bushes, where they were tied up, while the assailants drove away with the ambulance. The paramedics managed to escape to the nearby Mavuso squatter camp and called for help.
Shawa said the crew had managed to activate the panic button before their attackers took the ambulance.
He said all Gauteng EMS operational vehicles, including ambulances, were fitted with camera technology and tracking devices. This enabled the armed response company to be on the scene within a few minutes.
The ambulance was recovered a few minutes later in the same Nellmapius area, he said.
"The crew sustained minor scrapes and bruises and have suffered emotional trauma. Trauma counselling has been arranged accordingly. The occupants of the address used to log the call, later on reported that they never called for an ambulance," said Shawa.
Police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the police were investigating a case of hijacking and kidnapping. She said the hijacked vehicle was found and other working tools were also stolen. Nevhuhulwi said the paramedics were tied, had their cell phones taken and their banking apps login details were used to withdraw money from their bank accounts. “The suspects abandoned them there and the ambulance was later recovered. No injuries were reported. The police are investigating. The suspects are unknown at this stage,” Nevhuhulwi said.
According to Shawa, the Nellmapius incident followed one that happened two weeks ago when two healthcare workers were robbed of their belongings in Ekangala. Police are investigating the case, he said.
He appealed to communities to work with law enforcement agencies to report any information that might assist in bringing perpetrators to book. "It is hoped that various measures, such as the installation of tracking and surveillance devices on EMS vehicles, will assist in curbing these disturbing incidents," said Shawa.
"The Gauteng Provincial Government is also rolling out phase one of the Gauteng panic button, which is being given to healthcare workers and others who work in vulnerable sectors. This will allow for quicker emergency responses in cases of emergencies."
The Gauteng Health Department condemned "the continued targeting of healthcare workers when discharging their duties by criminals who rob them of their belongings".
This attack and hijacking have added to the growing list of dangerous places for emergency services to respond to calls in Gauteng. While the latest incident occurred in Nellmapius near Mamelodi, which is not listed as a hotspot, the increasing number of attacks has led to growing concerns over the essential workers’ safety and the potential threat this poses.
At least nine areas in Tshwane are listed as hotspots by the Gauteng Department of Health, where response to emergency calls require armed escort by either police or private security. These places include Jukulyn (Soshanguve), Eersterust (Mamelodi), Mshongoville (Atteridgeville) and Boekenhout.
In Johannesburg alone, nearly 30 areas have been listed as hotspots, with areas such as Alexandra, Westbury, Zola in Soweto, Hillbrow, Braamfisherville, and Yeoville being on the list.
A ward councillor in Nellmapius, Kholofelo Kgopotso, said such incidents would affect the turnaround time for paramedics to respond to emergencies in the area and would affect the quality of services provided. “They will be scared to attend to our emergencies or have to wait for law enforcement before responding, and this might cause a delay. Some situations are a few seconds away from life and death and that’s why we need our paramedics to respond in time so they can save lives. Paramedics are very important for saving lives and communities need to protect them because criminals are sabotaging communities who are meant to be getting these services. I think what happened was so disgraceful. We as a community need to protest our paramedics as they play an essential role in saving lives,” said Kgopotso.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said hotspots were determined based on attacks that had regularly occurred in the listed areas. At hotspots, emergency services only attend to callouts if they are accompanied by law enforcement officers or security company personnel, said Modiba.
In 2022, 14 attacks against paramedics were recorded.
Sources: News 24, The Sowetan
At the time of the attack, the two, a man and a woman, were responding to a distress call from Nellmapius, near Mamelodi, of a 48-year-old who had collapsed. "An ambulance was dispatched to the area from the Mamelodi base and, on arrival in the vicinity of the address, two men waved to stop the crew. When the emergency responders stopped, the men pulled out firearms and forced them to drive to an unknown location" said Shawa.
Shawa added that the paramedics were taken to a shack in the bushes, where they were tied up, while the assailants drove away with the ambulance. The paramedics managed to escape to the nearby Mavuso squatter camp and called for help.
Shawa said the crew had managed to activate the panic button before their attackers took the ambulance.
He said all Gauteng EMS operational vehicles, including ambulances, were fitted with camera technology and tracking devices. This enabled the armed response company to be on the scene within a few minutes.
The ambulance was recovered a few minutes later in the same Nellmapius area, he said.
"The crew sustained minor scrapes and bruises and have suffered emotional trauma. Trauma counselling has been arranged accordingly. The occupants of the address used to log the call, later on reported that they never called for an ambulance," said Shawa.
Police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the police were investigating a case of hijacking and kidnapping. She said the hijacked vehicle was found and other working tools were also stolen. Nevhuhulwi said the paramedics were tied, had their cell phones taken and their banking apps login details were used to withdraw money from their bank accounts. “The suspects abandoned them there and the ambulance was later recovered. No injuries were reported. The police are investigating. The suspects are unknown at this stage,” Nevhuhulwi said.
According to Shawa, the Nellmapius incident followed one that happened two weeks ago when two healthcare workers were robbed of their belongings in Ekangala. Police are investigating the case, he said.
He appealed to communities to work with law enforcement agencies to report any information that might assist in bringing perpetrators to book. "It is hoped that various measures, such as the installation of tracking and surveillance devices on EMS vehicles, will assist in curbing these disturbing incidents," said Shawa.
"The Gauteng Provincial Government is also rolling out phase one of the Gauteng panic button, which is being given to healthcare workers and others who work in vulnerable sectors. This will allow for quicker emergency responses in cases of emergencies."
The Gauteng Health Department condemned "the continued targeting of healthcare workers when discharging their duties by criminals who rob them of their belongings".
This attack and hijacking have added to the growing list of dangerous places for emergency services to respond to calls in Gauteng. While the latest incident occurred in Nellmapius near Mamelodi, which is not listed as a hotspot, the increasing number of attacks has led to growing concerns over the essential workers’ safety and the potential threat this poses.
At least nine areas in Tshwane are listed as hotspots by the Gauteng Department of Health, where response to emergency calls require armed escort by either police or private security. These places include Jukulyn (Soshanguve), Eersterust (Mamelodi), Mshongoville (Atteridgeville) and Boekenhout.
In Johannesburg alone, nearly 30 areas have been listed as hotspots, with areas such as Alexandra, Westbury, Zola in Soweto, Hillbrow, Braamfisherville, and Yeoville being on the list.
A ward councillor in Nellmapius, Kholofelo Kgopotso, said such incidents would affect the turnaround time for paramedics to respond to emergencies in the area and would affect the quality of services provided. “They will be scared to attend to our emergencies or have to wait for law enforcement before responding, and this might cause a delay. Some situations are a few seconds away from life and death and that’s why we need our paramedics to respond in time so they can save lives. Paramedics are very important for saving lives and communities need to protect them because criminals are sabotaging communities who are meant to be getting these services. I think what happened was so disgraceful. We as a community need to protest our paramedics as they play an essential role in saving lives,” said Kgopotso.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said hotspots were determined based on attacks that had regularly occurred in the listed areas. At hotspots, emergency services only attend to callouts if they are accompanied by law enforcement officers or security company personnel, said Modiba.
In 2022, 14 attacks against paramedics were recorded.
Sources: News 24, The Sowetan