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FILE: Mpumalanga Emergency Medical Service’s ambulance.
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane, says urgent partnerships are needed to protect emergency medical workers against criminals.
Speaking at Wentworth Hospital, Simelane unveiled 44 new ambulances worth R86 million.
She says the rollout forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen emergency medical services in high-risk areas especially this festive season.
Simelane singled out the eThekwini district as one of the worst affected, citing an increase in hijackings and attacks on EMS personnel.
She stressed that no emergency worker should fear for their life whilst trying to save lives.
“We have had our ambulances attacked so many times. eThekwini is one of the most affected districts when it comes to that. Ilembe is the next one. A full years back, we had an EMS members attacked; one was killed and the other one was injured, put in a wheelchair just because the criminals wanted to take the vehicle,” she says.
