The Department condemns the robbery of the Emergency Medical Services Crew in Sekhukhune.
The Department of Health in Limpopo condemns with full contempt the brazen robbery of an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crew in the early hours of today. The EMS personnel are dedicated to saving lives and providing essential medical care to those in need, and it is unacceptable that they were subjected to such a heinous and criminal act.
According to the preliminary report received, the EMS crew from Philadelphia Station in Moutse, Sekhukhune District, was responding to an emergency call that happened to be a bait at Kgobokwane Village when they were ambushed and robbed at gunpoint. Valuables such as cellphones, jewellery, and cash were taken, and one crew member was even forced to transfer money using her banking app. This despicable act not only endangers the lives of our dedicated EMS workers but also compromises their ability to respond to genuine medical emergencies promptly.
Health MEC Dr. Phophi Ramathuba described the incident as utterly deplorable. “The safety and security of our EMS personnel are paramount, and any attack on them is an attack on the entire healthcare system and the community we serve. We cannot tolerate such violence against those who are committed to saving lives and providing vital healthcare services to our communities,” explained MEC Ramathuba.
The Department urges the law enforcement agencies to swiftly investigate this criminal act and bring the perpetrators to book. Also, the department calls on the community to assist the authorities in identifying and apprehending those responsible for this reprehensible crime.
“We appeal to the community to stand together against such criminal acts and to support our EMS teams as they continue to serve with dedication and selflessness. Any information that may assist in the apprehension of the perpetrators should be reported to the authorities without delay,” said the MEC.
