Johannesburg - In 2022 alone there have been 14 incidents where health officials in Gauteng were attacked and robbed while performing their duties.
On Sunday, the Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, said she was concerned about the continuous attacks and robberies of health officials in the province in the line of duty.
“Over the weekend, members of the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from Odi Base and patients were robbed of their belongings, including medical equipment,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko as she labelled the incidents as totally unacceptable.
According to the Gauteng Department of Health, in one incident, two EMS personnel were robbed at gunpoint while responding to a case of difficulty breathing at Lebanon in Winterveld just after midnight last Friday. The department said the crew was robbed of cellphones and personal belongings, including an electrocardiogram (ECG) unit and patient-monitoring equipment.
In another incident on Saturday, a crew from the same Odi Base was robbed by armed attackers of their cellphones as well as that of a patient at the gate of Boekenhout Clinic as they were about to transport the patient.
The department said that, fortunately, no injuries were sustained, and its crews were undergoing trauma counselling to help them cope with the ordeal.
“We plead with the community members to come forward with information that can assist both the department and law enforcement agencies to apprehend perpetrators of these evil acts,” said the MEC.
The department confirmed that the two incidents were reported at Mabopane police station.
According to the department, the latest attacks bring the total number of incidents to 14 to date in 2022.
Gauteng Health further declared a number of areas in Gauteng as “hot spots” or “red zones” that are unsafe for emergency personnel.
The Tshwane hot spots include Itireleng informal settlement in Laudium, Jukelyn in Soshanguve, Eersterust in Mamelodi, New Eersterust, Winterveldt, Joe Slovo in Lebanon, Boekenhout, Oliven in Itireleng, and Mshongoville in Atteridgeville.
The Ekurhuleni hot spots are Angelo informal settlement in Germiston and Reiger Park, while the West Rand hot spots include Spoko Town.
The Johannesburg red zones are Zola, Braamfischerville, Snake Park informal settlement, Mbuzini informal settlement, Nomzamo Park informal settlement, Dube hostel, Mzimhlophe hostel Hillbrow base, Mangolongolo informal settlement, Westbury, Hillbrow area, George Goch hostel, Denver Men’s Hostel, Yeoville area, Kwa Mai Mai area, Jeppe Discoverer hostel, Mathole informal settlement, Riverlea, Slovo Park informal settlement, Princess informal settlement, Mhlangeni informal settlement, Zamimpilo informal settlement, Durban Deep, Pikoko informal settlement in Ruimsig, Jerusalem informal settlement, and Alexander.
The department said EMS crews will only enter these areas accompanied by law enforcement agencies or by security personnel.
The Star