- Two EMS workers were hijacked and kidnapped at Matthew Goniwe Community Health Centre in Makhaza; their ambulance was later found stripped in Qanduqandu informal settlement.
- One victim reported being raped and received medical treatment, while the Department of Health initially denied any physical harm.
- Community leaders warn that such attacks may lead to ambulance services avoiding the area, putting lives at risk.
Makhaza police are investigating cases of carjacking, kidnapping and rape after two emergency medical services (EMS) workers were reportedly hijacked and kidnapped at Matthew Goniwe Community Health Centre in Makhaza on Friday 21 February.The pair was later discovered at Qanduqandu informal settlement, in Site B, and their vehicle, an ambulance, was already stripped.
According to police, one of the victims was raped. However, the Department of Health and Wellness denied that the workers were in any way harmed.
Provincial police spokesperson W/O Joseph Swartbooi said the report suggested the complainant aged 25 and her colleague, both deployed on a local ambulance, were static at a medical facility in Makhaza on Friday 21 February around 15:20 when seven males hijacked the vehicle and fled.“
The complainant reported she was raped and taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment” he said. “The vehicle was recovered in the nearby Qanduqandu informal settlement. The suspects have yet to be arrested.”
Nadia Ferreira, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Wellness, said: “We can confirm one of our HealthNET vehicles, with an EMS staff member in it, was hijacked on Friday 21 February.
“Although our staff member managed to escape and was not physically hurt. She is severely traumatised. Counselling service has been made available to her.”
Ferreira said the department condemned this criminal incident and violence against essential workers dedicated to saving lives and providing critical care.
Khayelitsha Health Forum (KHF) chair Mzanywa Ndibongo said the forum was shocked by the incident and urged that the law take its course against the perpetrators.
He said drastic measures were needed to curb crime in the area.“Our concern is that many people are going to be affected by the consequences of this incident. The ambulances will refuse to go to Khayelitsha if they are going to be robbed. And many people are going to die.
”Ferreira said a special meeting would be organised with all the community stakeholders to find a way forward in dealing with this crisis.
Ndibongo said fighting crime is everyone’s responsibility.
“The reality is, officers can’t be everywhere due to their limited resources. We need to mobilise all civil-society organisations and others to come on board to protect not only the ambulances, but the community. We need to know when the ambulances are coming to our areas to be escorted by our leaders.”