The Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal has strongly condemned the recent attack on emergency medical staff in the KwaDabhasi Othinsangu area, near Nongoma in the Zululand district. The incident unfolded when an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) team responded to a call about a diabetic patient experiencing chest pains. However, the crew was deceived into leaving their ambulance under the false pretense of treating a patient at a nearby homestead.
Upon approaching the site, the EMS staff were confronted by armed criminals who forced them to surrender their belongings, including phones and wallets. One of the EMS workers was struck in the face during the ordeal, highlighting the violent nature of the attack. Despite the trauma, the crew managed to retreat to their ambulance and drive to a nearby police station for safety.
This attack is not an isolated case, as it is part of a troubling pattern of targeted assaults on EMS personnel in the region. Nomagugu Simelane, the MEC for the Department of Health, expressed deep concern, emphasizing the growing dangers faced by emergency workers who risk their lives to provide critical care to those in need. She called on law enforcement to intensify their efforts to catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Simelane also urged local communities to work together to protect EMS workers, whose safety is crucial for the functioning of the emergency services. She condemned such attacks, stressing that they undermine the vital role EMS teams play in saving lives and ensuring public health. “These attacks are unwarranted and must stop,” Simelane declared. “They not only jeopardize the safety of our workers but also cripple the essential services they provide.”
The Department of Health is calling for collective action to safeguard EMS personnel and prevent further violence. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by emergency workers, who are often placed in harm’s way while serving their communities.
