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7 July 2023
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Ambulance hijacked and medics attacked, one shot, at clinic in Mpumalanga
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An emergency worker was shot in the leg by three armed men during a hijacking of an ambulance at a clinic between Hazyview and White River on Sunday, 25 June 2023. According to the Mpumalanga Department of Health, the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning.
The statement said two paramedics, a man and woman, were confronted by the three hijackers after returning from a call-out to their station at the Phola Nsikazi Clinic.
It said two of the hijackers held up the security personnel at gunpoint and took their personal belongings and security equipment, including handcuffs. The statement said the third hijacker forcefully took the ambulance inside the clinic premises with the medics on board. The male medic tried to escape near the clinic gate, which is when the suspects shot him in the leg. The ambulance reportedly sped off with the female medic still inside.
The statement said the woman was later able to escape while the suspects were searching for the tracker inside the vehicle. The ambulance was later found with minor damages to the cabin.
“According to reports, some unknown men pointed a firearm at security personnel stationed at the entrance of Pholansikazi community health centre on Sunday morning,” spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi said. “The men proceeded to fire three shots at the driver of the emergency medical services (EMS) before making it off with an ambulance”.
“The security task team of the company contracted to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison swiftly responded to the scene, and their efforts paid off as the hijacked ambulance was recovered within two kilometres from the crime scene,” said Mmusi.
The Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, visited the clinic later that day for a briefing on the incident. She wished the injured paramedic a speedy recovery and said that the staff members affected by the incident would be referred for professional counselling.
Sources: The Lowvelder, IOL
The statement said two paramedics, a man and woman, were confronted by the three hijackers after returning from a call-out to their station at the Phola Nsikazi Clinic.
It said two of the hijackers held up the security personnel at gunpoint and took their personal belongings and security equipment, including handcuffs. The statement said the third hijacker forcefully took the ambulance inside the clinic premises with the medics on board. The male medic tried to escape near the clinic gate, which is when the suspects shot him in the leg. The ambulance reportedly sped off with the female medic still inside.
The statement said the woman was later able to escape while the suspects were searching for the tracker inside the vehicle. The ambulance was later found with minor damages to the cabin.
“According to reports, some unknown men pointed a firearm at security personnel stationed at the entrance of Pholansikazi community health centre on Sunday morning,” spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi said. “The men proceeded to fire three shots at the driver of the emergency medical services (EMS) before making it off with an ambulance”.
“The security task team of the company contracted to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison swiftly responded to the scene, and their efforts paid off as the hijacked ambulance was recovered within two kilometres from the crime scene,” said Mmusi.
The Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, visited the clinic later that day for a briefing on the incident. She wished the injured paramedic a speedy recovery and said that the staff members affected by the incident would be referred for professional counselling.
Sources: The Lowvelder, IOL