Men who raped paramedics ‘animals’: Zuma

JOHANNESBURG - The men who attacked two women paramedics, raping one, attending to a burnt toddler, behaved like animals, President Jacob Zuma said in Johannesburg on Sunday.

“It was very disturbing to hear that people providing a service to the community were violated in such a cruel manner... Those criminals behaved like animals,” he said addressing Roodepoort Fire Station staff and a crowd who gathered inside and outside the station.

On the night of Friday, March 6, three men confronted paramedics when they arrived in Durban Deep in Roodepoort to help a toddler who had suffered burn wounds. According to the police, the trio threatened the two male paramedics and told them to run away, otherwise they would shoot them. They then raped one female paramedic and attempted to rape the other.

Zuma said he had spoken to the victims, their families, the head of emergency services in Roodepoort and the police investigating the matter.

“I am happy that after this incident they Šthe paramedicsÆ are still prepared to work. These criminals should be arrested as soon as possible.”

He said citizens needed to work with the police in fighting crime.

- Sapa