CAPE TOWN – Khayelitsha Health Forum has condemned the hijacking of an Emergency Medical Services (MSE) driver in Khayelitsha on Monday 22 June, citing that the incident painted a bad image of Khayelitsha. KHF chairperson Mzanywa Ndibongo described the incident as uncalled for.
He said they are planning to convene all community stakeholders, including the EMS management in Khayelitsha, in a special meeting to discuss the matter. He said the victim was a woman who escaped unharmed.
EMS employee escapes unharmed after hijacking
“Fortunately, the woman was not harmed and later the car was recovered within Khayelitsha. As the Khayelitsha community, we need to come up with a solution regarding these kinds of incidents. We cannot allow service providers to be robbed every day when they are coming to Khayelitsha. We need the community to ensure that they look after the ambulances when they come to our areas,” said Ndibongo.
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The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS spokesperson Shimoney Regter confirmed that on Monday 22 June, one of its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) employees was targeted in a hijacking in Khayelitsha. Regter said the incident occurred around 15:00 when the employee was heading to the EMS base in the area.
Health Department calls for justice
“While our staff member was not physically harmed, she is traumatised and has received counselling and support through our employee wellness programme. Following the incident, a case was opened with the officers and we are working closely with them to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” said Regter.
She said the vehicle, an EMS double-cab response vehicle, was recovered just after 16:00 on the same day. It was found damaged, with the dashboard ripped open, scratches on the exterior, and the canopy missing.
The latest hijacking follows another incident involving an EMS worker less than a week earlier, when a 57-year-old staff member died following an alleged smash-and-grab attack in Elsies River.
ALSO READ: Ambulance worker dies after alleged smash-and-grab attack
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger said: “These attacks on our healthcare services not only impact our staff and their wellbeing, but also their families and entire communities. We urge all people to take a stand against this violence and to protect those who serve them. We also appeal to anyone with information related to this incident to come forward and report it to the nearest police station.
“Our message is clear: enough is enough. We must work together to ensure that our EMS personnel can carry out their duties safely. Their safety is essential to the wellbeing of every community they serve.”
Police continue investigation into hijacking
Provincial police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that Lingelethu West Police opened cases of carjacking and kidnapping following an incident that occurred at a shopping mall in Khayelitsha on Monday 22 June.
“According to reports, a 56-year-old woman was walking towards her work vehicle when she was approached by gunmen who forced her inside and drove off with her. The officers were informed by a bystander who witnessed the incident and a search ensued. The victim was found unharmed and the vehicle was also recovered with damage to the interior,” said Gwala, adding that the suspects are still at large and the investigation is ongoing.
