The Khayelitsha Health Forum is calling for community action to stop attacks on ambulance staff after a 25-year-old female medic was kidnapped and raped in the township.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, EMS staff were parked in an ambulance at Matthew Goniwe Clinic in Makhaza at around 3.22pm on Friday when seven men hijacked the vehicle, taking the female medic with them.
The medic was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after she reported that she had been raped.
The vehicle was recovered in nearby Qandu-Qandu.
The perpetrators are still at large.
Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Nadia Ferreira confirmed to IOL that one of their HealthNET vehicles, with an EMS staff member, had been hijacked on Friday.
“She is severely traumatised. The department condemns this criminal incident and violence against our essential workers who are dedicated to saving lives and providing critical care. This is an ongoing SAPS investigation.”
KHF chairperson Mzanywa Ndibongo condemned the incident, saying, “This is very bad. These unwarranted and senseless attacks on EMS should not be allowed by us all. Ambulances will be reluctant to help our people during difficult times. Even in struggle times, ambulances driven by white people were not attacked because they are of good help. In recent times, where stupidity reigns, people attack and hijack EMS. As a community, we should stand up and say one attack is one too many.”
The forum would seek to prevent incidents like this happening again, he said.
“We do not expect EMS members to be robbed or held at gunpoint while saving lives. We will arrange a meeting with all Khayelitsha stakeholders to discuss safety measurements and the role we should play as residents, community police forums and police.”
Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (Cosatu) Khayelitsha branch secretary Makhaya Jezile also condemned the incident, saying it had come shortly after the branch had held discussions, at the Khayelitsha Training Centre, about crime prevention in the area and a rise in car hijackings there.
“This blatant act of criminality not only compromises the delivery of essential health-care services but also endangers the lives of both health-care workers and residents of Khayelitsha. It further undermines economic growth and employment opportunities in the area,” he said.
Cosatu demanded swift and decisive action from law enforcement to apprehend those responsible.
“We also call on residents, community leaders, and structures to be vigilant in safeguarding state resources and protecting public servants,” said Mr Jezile.
The police have urged anyone with information about the case to call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
