Steadville protesters attack Sharaj Ambulance Services

"We started driving around looking for an entrance out, but we met a mob of protesters and they started intimidating us. Some even threatened to throw stones at us"

July 3, 2014

Sipho Zama 2 minutes read

Sharaj Ambulance Services paramedics faced a terrifying ordeal on Tuesday while trying to help a seriously injured man in Steadville.

They responded to a call in the heart of Steadville, where rioters protesting against the taxi tariff increase had blocked roads with rocks and branches, not allowing any vehicles to use the main roads leading into the township.

“We received an emergency call that a 58-year-old man was in a serious condition and needed to be taken to hospital. When we arrived at the Dunlop factory entrance, we saw police officers and asked if we could go in,” explained the driver of the ambulance.

Sharaj paramedics explained how they were told that a grader had removed the illegal roadblocks and they could enter the location as the situation seemed fairly calm.

“We stabilised the 58-year-old man and were ready to go when we noticed that more huge rocks had been put in the road.” It was then that the situation changed from quiet to hostile and tense. “We started driving around looking for an entrance out, but we met a mob of protesters and they started intimidating us. Some even threatened to throw stones at us.”

The driver of the ambulance turned and again looked for an alternative exit so they could get their patient, who had serious injuries to his chest, to hospital. “After seeing how terrified my fellow colleagues were and realising we might have a dying man on board, I knew I had to act fast,” explained the driver. “We were risking our lives to help the people of Steadville and now they were attacking us.” It was then that they contacted the control officer to call for assistance.

“When I saw that something had to be done right away, I got out of the ambulance and pleaded our case, begging them to let us through.” The mob then calmed down, but told the paramedics that they must move the rocks away themselves.

The Sharaj crew are still overwhelmed by the incident. “We have never encountered a problem like this before. Why attack us when we are there to help?”