“We cannot afford situations where every time we have an emergency we have to go via the nearest police station,” said Joburg EMS spokesperson.
City of Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi says communities need to work together to report crime which hampers the response time of ambulance services.
The spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services, Robert Mulaudzi, has urged residents to protect EMS personnel while they are rendering an essential service to the community.
The appeal follows the robbery and hijacking of a Joburg EMS night shift ambulance crew in Cosmo City on Saturday, 23 September.
According to Mulaudzi, the ambulance crew was responding to an emergency call in the area. “While they were looking for the physical address they were requested to go to, two male suspects came from nowhere, pointed a gun at them and instructed them to get out of the ambulance which they did, and the suspects drove off with the ambulance,” said Mulaudzi.
He added that the traumatised crew managed to walk to the nearby Cosmo City Police Station to seek help and a case of hijacking and robbery was registered.
Metro police to escort paramedics to crime hotspots
Following an increase in violent attacks on paramedics, Johannesburg Metro Police officers will now escort emergency services to crime hotspots.
JOHANNESBURG – Following an increase in violent attacks on paramedics, Johannesburg Metro Police officers will now escort emergency services to crime hotspots.
On Saturday an ambulance crew was hijacked and robbed while responding to an emergency in Cosmo City, Johannesburg.
MMC for Public Safety Michael Sun said: “Our paramedics and firefighters are not trained to fight criminals whilst they're attending to an injured patient. About a year ago we started to identify these hotspots, we've built a trend map to map out the hotspots where attacks have taken place. So when we do receive calls from these areas we will dispatch JMPD officers to accompany them to a scene.”
“Fortunately a lot of private companies like security companies they are also coming to assist. But mostly we are calling on residents to please note that when paramedics are out there saving lives, they need to be looked after so if you can and willing please ensure our paramedics are being kept safe,” Sun added.
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