Emergency crews of two ambulances were lured into a trap by armed robbers in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, early yesterday morning and robbed at gunpoint of their cellphones and wallets.
Angry Eastern Cape department of health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo lashed out at the thugs, saying that even in war zones, emergency medical staff were allowed to do their work unhindered.
Kupelo said as from today the department's ambulances will only be dispatched if there is a police escort available to go with them.
He said the latest two incidents - involving one ambulance from the health department and the other from Netcare 911 - were the fourth in recent months where ambulance crews were held up at gunpoint and attacked.
"It will without a doubt have a negative impact on service delivery," Kupelo said.
Apart from the four recent armed robberies, an EMS ambulance crew was also attacked while helping a shooting victim.
Security guards at Dora Nginza Hospital had to intervene last week when gang members followed an ambulance to the hospital to kill the victim of a shooting incident, Kupelo said.
"Crime is the responsibility for all of us, and we need to protect our EMS crews who are serving the community," he said.
Police spokesman Constable Mncedi Mbombo said the latest two incidents happened only 15 minutes apart.
"The first incident, involving a Metro ambulance, happened at 12.30am and the second involving a Netcare 911 ambulance at 12.45am," Mbombo said.
Mbombo said both EMS crews were responding to a call for help from "an asthmatic patient".
In both cases the police are investigating cases of armed robbery.
No arrests have been made, Mbombo said.
"People must know that as from today the ambulances will only come as far as the police station and they will not go into New Brighton without a police escort," he said.
The head of EMS, Brenhan Metune, said following previous attacks on ambulances in New Brighton, ambulance crews were told to ask for an armed escort before going into the area.
He said calls are sometimes delayed by an hour while waiting for the police to accompany the ambulance on a call out.
Netcare 911's Lauren Lowenstein said they have security measures in place for the protection of staff, and were deeply disappointed that criminals would prey on those who work so hard to save other people's lives.
Two ambulances attacked by thugs
Emergency crews of two ambulances were lured into a trap by armed robbers in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, early yesterday morning and robbed at gunpoint of their cellphones and wallets.
Angry Eastern Cape department of health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo lashed out at the thugs, saying that even in war zones, emergency medical staff were allowed to do their work unhindered.
Kupelo said as from today the department's ambulances will only be dispatched if there is a police escort available to go with them.
He said the latest two incidents - involving one ambulance from the health department and the other from Netcare 911 - were the fourth in recent months where ambulance crews were held up at gunpoint and attacked.
"It will without a doubt have a negative impact on service delivery," Kupelo said.
Apart from the four recent armed robberies, an EMS ambulance crew was also attacked while helping a shooting victim.
Security guards at Dora Nginza Hospital had to intervene last week when gang members followed an ambulance to the hospital to kill the victim of a shooting incident, Kupelo said.
"Crime is the responsibility for all of us, and we need to protect our EMS crews who are serving the community," he said.
Police spokesman Constable Mncedi Mbombo said the latest two incidents happened only 15 minutes apart.
"The first incident, involving a Metro ambulance, happened at 12.30am and the second involving a Netcare 911 ambulance at 12.45am," Mbombo said.
Mbombo said both EMS crews were responding to a call for help from "an asthmatic patient".
In both cases the police are investigating cases of armed robbery.
No arrests have been made, Mbombo said.
"People must know that as from today the ambulances will only come as far as the police station and they will not go into New Brighton without a police escort," he said.
The head of EMS, Brenhan Metune, said following previous attacks on ambulances in New Brighton, ambulance crews were told to ask for an armed escort before going into the area.
He said calls are sometimes delayed by an hour while waiting for the police to accompany the ambulance on a call out.
Netcare 911's Lauren Lowenstein said they have security measures in place for the protection of staff, and were deeply disappointed that criminals would prey on those who work so hard to save other people's lives.
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