With the festive season on our doorstep, the City of Ekurhuleni urges motorists and communities to cooperate with its Disaster and Emergency Management Services.
Speaking at the Ekurhuleni Press Club on Friday, spokespersons of the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services, Robert Mulaudzi and William Ntladi, told the media that the two cities were experiencing an increase in attacks on their staff, including damage to emergency vehicles and fire stations.
“In one of the attacks, one member had to discontinue practising as a firefighter because of the injuries she sustained. Other staff members are undergoing medical treatments and emotional counselling,” said Ntladi.
“Several vehicles had to be discontinued because of the damages that occurred during the attacks.”
These attacks are irrational in that they eventually reduce the already strained resources which are meant to save lives.
The attacks affect unarmed emergency personnel in many ways and also negatively impact the communities in need of these services.
Some of the more serious incidents over the last year include:
- Personnel robbed and assaulted in Somalia informal settlement, Vosloorus on October 29;
- An ambulance was stoned at Greenfield in Palm Ridge on October 30;
- Personnel assaulted and shots fired at a fire engine in Dukathole informal settlement in Germiston on July 16;
- Personnel from Leon Ferreira Fire Station had to dive for cover when shots were fired at them and the fire engine;
- Fire engine stoned, windscreen damaged during an attack at Angelo informal settlement on December 17, last year;
- A fire engine from Zonkizizwe Fire Station was burnt at Moleleki Extension Two on September 4, last year;
- Personnel from Daveyton Fire Station were shot at by a random gunman while working at the station on August 28, last year;
- Personnel from Primrose Fire Station sustained injuries and a fire engine was damaged during an attack at the fire station on August 13, last year;
- Paramedic staff were assaulted on the N3 northbound while attending to an accident scene on November 7, last year.
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