State Emergency Services Workers in Gqeberha led a mass motorcade to City Hall on Wednesday, to express their concern and frustration at the recent spate of violent attacks on EMS workers in the city.
The workers handed Mayor Gary van Niekerk a list of demands with suggested measures on what they believe could make their work environment safer.
Within the current financial year alone, there have been 20 attacks on EMS personnel in various parts of the city.
The attacks include armed robberies, hijackings, verbal attacks, and the burning of state EMS vehicles.
In the most recent incident on Monday, an emergency crew was robbed by six gunmen in front of the Kwazakhele Clinic.
The robbery happened shortly after the crew had dropped off a patient at the clinic.
Also read: EMS workers robbed by six gunment in Gqeberha
Terrified workers say they face life-or-death situations every day, and they come under attack by the very communities that they so diligently serve.
EMS District Manager Sonia Lupondwana said they are under siege by criminals.
"Healthcare workers are faced with serious challenges. We are physically beaten and robbed by armed robbers.
"Our communities complain about long waiting times for ambulances, while we are faced with deciding whether we live or die as we respond to their complaints.
"That delays us to respond timeously, but we are seen like we are not able to deliver on services as required," she said.
The demands for an integrated service delivery approach to the solution include:
Van Niekerk sympathised with the workers and vowed to assist using the safety and security and public health committees' resources.
