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The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) strongly condemns the recent attack on the EMS crew in Nellmapius near Mamelodi, East of Pretoria. The attack happened on the early hours of Saturday, where an ambulance crew responding to what appeared to be a distress call from Nellmapius was hijacked, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed. It was later realised that the call was false. 

According to the Gauteng Department of Health, the Gauteng Emergency Service personnel were robbed of their cell phones and equipment during the attack. Their bank cards were also used to withdraw cash. 

NUPSAW finds the actions by the perpetrators as appalling and highly disappointing. This is because there are people who rely solely on these workers and their service. These workers are the first respondents in times of emergencies and are supposed to help save the lives of the citizens of the country. What they are subjected to at the hands of unscrupulous criminals is uncalled for. This is an attack not only to them, but to the very same people that have put their lives in the hands of these dedicated public servants.

The attack on health workers is becoming a norm in this country and it is uncalled for. More often we receive reports of attacks of these nature on these workers and we believe it pulls us back as a nation as we look barbaric in the face of others. 

This union is appealing to the community members who have information that might help the law enforcement agencies to capture these criminals to please come forward. These assailants need to be brought to book and face the full might of the law. We believe that these workers deserve justice because they are awake at night so we can feel safe. It is therefore an injustice to them that they should be attacked while working tirelessly to preserve lives.

Issued by NUPSAW