Mpumalanga MEC for health condemns hijacking of ambulance in Belfast
The health department said it does not condone barbaric acts of criminality against its employees, especially frontline workers.
The Mpumalanga Department of Health’s MEC, Sasekani Manzini, strongly condemned the hijacking of an ambulance that had been responding to a maternity emergency call on Sunday night, May 15, in Belfast.
The vehicle was found in the same area this morning, May 16, with its engine stripped out.
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“It is quite disturbing how a sane person can target such a valuable and sensitive community resource like an ambulance. They do not care whether a community member, a relative or a sibling loses their lives due to non-availability of ambulances, because the one available was hijacked and stripped of its parts for their own selfish interests.”
She said the department is relieved that the paramedics are safe and have been referred to its employment assistance programme for counselling.
“We also condemn this thoughtless behaviour of taking a valuable and much-needed medical emergency vehicle, because it means they have robbed the whole community their rights to access healthcare services.”
Manzini pleaded with anyone who might have information, to assist the police so that the suspects can be apprehended.
