The Gauteng Department of Health has called on members of the society to put an end to continued attacks on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel while in the line of duty.
This comes after two EMS crew members were shot at on Friday night while responding to a gunshot incident in Germiston. The incident resulted in one crew member being hit by a bullet and had to be rushed to hospital.
Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi said the attack on EMS slowed down the emergency response to the fatally wounded resident who unfortunately died on the way to hospital.
“Unless communities work together with law enforcement agencies to put an end to the attacks on EMS personnel and the vandalism of their equipment, people needing emergency medical care might find themselves without assistance as workers will be reluctant to respond to calls,” said Mokgethi.
Mokgethi said the two crew members were admitted at a nearby hospital in a stable condition.
“One crew member is still in hospital while the other is going for counselling,” said Mokgethi.
In a different incident at the beginning of May a woman EMS crew member was attached at gunpoint while on duty leaving her on crushes.
According to Mokgethi an attack on EMS personnel should be seen as an attack to the rest of society.
“We therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms the continued attacks on the Green Angels,”
She said the last thing we want is for EMS workers to start fearing for their lives instead of being concerned about saving as many lives as possible.
“GDoH requests members of the community who might have any information relating any of the attacks to come forward and assist the police in their investigation,” added Mokgethi.
