The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has condemned the recent attack on Tshwane Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers while responding to an incident in Nellmapius on Saturday.

According to the Gauteng Health Department, the EMS crew was hijacked, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed of their personal cell phones, and other working tools while responding to what appeared to be a distress call in Nellmapius, near Mamelodi.

Committee chairperson Bandile Masuku expressed concern about the “unacceptable growing number of such incidents where EMS workers are attacked and robbed while responding to emergencies”.

“This is a worrying trend in Gauteng, as it puts the lives of EMS workers at risk and compromises their ability to respond and provide health care services to those in desperate need of them,” Masuku said.

The committee called on law enforcement to act with speed in apprehending the perpetrators of these crimes.

“There can never be a no-go area for EMS workers while carrying out their responsibilities, and to have them escorted by police or security officers in some areas paints a worrying picture of the level of crime and lawlessness in our province,” Masuku continued said.

Meanwhile, the committee commended the provincial government’s strides in introducing tracking surveillance devices on EMS vehicles to help EMS teams whenever they encounter dangerous situations.

The committee urged communities to work with law enforcement agencies to end attacks on EMS works, as these sabotage efficient emergency responses.

Source: South African Government News Agency