Nellmapius residents condemn robbery of paramedics
The Gauteng ambulance crew was responding to an “emergency” in Nellmapius and were close to the scene, when two men waved it down, drew firearms and forced it to drive to an unknown location.
Nellmapius residents have been urged to blow the whistle on the people who recently robbed paramedics on a call-out in the area.
The robbers hijacked and held captive the Gauteng ambulance crew of a man and woman, then forced them to transfer funds from their bank accounts.
The crew was intercepted while responding to a call that a 48-year-old man had collapsed on Strikers Street in Nellmapius around 00:30 on July 22.
Community leader Eddie Mathiba said what happened to the ambulance crew was nonsense that should never be allowed.
Mathiba called on residents to take a stand to prevent the attacks on paramedics and hijackings of ambulances.
He implored the community to come forward with any information that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrators, adding this could be done anonymously.
“An ambulance is here to save lives and when you attack paramedics, who are going to help us in the case of an emergency?” asked Mathiba.
He said paramedics will now fear for their lives when they respond to call-outs to Nellmapius.
“Therefore we need to work with law enforcement to help find these perpetrators,” Mathiba.
He said he did not believe the robbers were from Nellmapius. He suspected they might be foreigners.
Vusi Msiza of Mavuso informal settlement said Nellmapius desperately needed its own police station and community policing forums.
“If we had a police station, these things could have been prevented,” he said.
“The kidnapping and hijacking were planned and today it looks like people from Nellmapius do not want help in case of an emergency,” said Msiza.
Pensioner, Sophie Ndaba said a lot of residents were very sick and lived with chronic diseases.
She said now no one will want to come to Nellmapius in case of emergency because of the incident.
“Community members need to work with police and bring any information that can lead to the arrest of these criminals.
Local police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said a case of hijacking and kidnapping was registered with the police service.
She said as the paramedics approached the location, a vehicle flashed its lights signalling them to stop.
“When they did, they were accosted by three men, and by force of firearms ordered them to cooperate.”
She said one of the men then took the controls of the ambulance and drove it into the bushes in Nellmapius, where the paramedics were robbed of their cellphones and money.
“The suspects are unknown at this stage,” said Nevhuhulwi, adding that the robbers then fled leaving the paramedics unhurt.
The Gauteng health department has condemned the continued targeting of healthcare workers by criminals who rob them of their belongings.
Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the man and woman sustained minor scrapes and bruises as a result of the abduction, assault and robbery.
Modiba said the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when an emergency call was registered for a 48-year-old man who had reportedly collapsed in Nellmapius, in the east of Pretoria.
Modiba said the crew activated a panic button before the assailants seized the ambulance.
He said the two made their way to a nearby squatter camp where they called for help.
“Their cellphones and other working tools were taken while responding to what appeared to be a distress call from Nellmapius near Mamelodi township.”
Modiba said the crew suffered emotional trauma and has since received counselling.
He said the reported emergency was fake.
“The occupants of the address used to log the call, later reported that they never called for an ambulance.”
Modiba said the department tracked the ambulance as it was still in the Nellmapius area.
He said the vehicle was equipped with camera technology and tracking devices.
“This enabled the armed response company to be on the scene within a few minutes while the police were on their way.
“The department once again appeals to communities to work with law enforcement agencies to report any information that might assist the police to bring perpetrators to book,” he said.
“It is hoped that various measures such as the installation of tracking and surveillance devices on EMS vehicles will assist in curbing these disturbing incidents as more perpetrators are brought to book.”
He said the Gauteng government was rolling out phase one of the Gauteng panic button project which is being given to healthcare workers and others who work in vulnerable sectors.
“This will allow for quicker emergency responses in cases of emergencies.”
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