Police to intensify healthcare worker attack investigations
The effort comes after two EMS crews were attacked in Nellmapius and Saulsville recently.
After two recent attacks on healthcare workers in Nellmapius and Saulsville, a special team of detectives has been established to investigate the crime.
The provincial department recently announced that its EMS workers were targeted by criminals while responding to distress calls.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said that all cases have been referred to the provincial head office and are receiving the utmost attention.
“All the cases have been escalated to the provincial office and a dedicated team has been assigned to work on this. We are appealing to anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist in the apprehension of the suspects to report to their local SAPS,” Masondo said.
The Saulsville incident on July 23 involved an EMS crew from Kalafong tertiary hospital responding a call regarding a diabetic coma patient.
“While the crew was looking for the physical address of the reported patient, a white Toyota Avanza blocked them. The perpetrators in the vehicle pulled out firearms and forced the crew into the Avanza,” the department stated via a statement.
“Both crew members were taken to a shack where they were tied up and the perpetrators fled the scene with their personal belongings. The crew managed to free themselves later and the abandoned ambulance was discovered by the patrolling SAPS.”
In the Nellmapius incident in the early hours of July 22, another provincial EMS team were hijacked, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed of their personal belongings – cellphone, work tools – while responding to a fictitious distress call.
The suspects also took the bank cards of the EMS workers to withdraw their money.
“The department has condemned in the strongest terms, the continued targeting of healthcare workers discharging their duties in communities by criminals who rob them of their belongings,” the department said.
The department said that the incidents follow another robbery that took place three weeks ago.
Two Dark City community healthcare centre workers performing their duties in Ekangala were robbed by two suspects in a grey VW Polo.
Health and wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said she welcomed the police intervention.
“We are taking additional steps to beef up the security of our health personnel. One attack is one too many. We already have areas that are now declared hot zones, meaning that our personnel are not able to access them to render needed health services unless they have a police/security escort,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.
“This cannot go unabated. We welcome the move by the SAPS to have a dedicated team look into these cases so that we can arrest the criminals who are behind these attacks.”
The department appealed to community members with any information regarding these and any other attacks that they are aware of to contact their nearest authorities.
Investigating officer Warrant Officer Eddy Sithole can be reached on 082 775 0369.
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