TWO eShowe EMRS ambulances were burned in two separate arson incidents early this morning.
The first ambulance was dispatched at 2am to Matshamhlophe in the Mbongolwane area to attend to a maternity case.
Ten minutes later the ambulance crew contacted the emergency call centre using another person’s cell phone to report that while on route they were stopped by two armed men.
The men fired shots at the tyres and the ambulance crew fled the scene.
While hiding in the bushes they saw the men set the ambulance alight. When the men had left they called the Mbongolwane Hospital for assistance.
In a second incident, an ambulance crew dispatched just after 1am to Vuma Gcininhliziyo School outside eShowe to attend to a one-year-old patient, were also confronted by an unknown number of armed men.
The crew and the patient managed to flee to safety while the men set the ambulance alight.
Police officers patrolling the area came to the rescue.
The reason for the attacks on the ambulances are unknown.
According to SAPS eShowe Cluster spokesperson, Capt Tienkie van Vuuren, it is believed that a strike regarding salary increases by EMRS personnel is brewing.
‘It is therefore not clear if it was EMRS staff or the community attacking the ambulances,’ said Capt Van Vuuren.
eShowe and Mbongolwane SAPS members have been deployed in the areas to monitor any activity.
No arrests have been made so far.
