File
Eastern Cape Health MEC, Ntandokazi Capa, has condemned the hijacking of an ambulance in Qumbu on Monday night that was transporting an eight-year-old patient.
She said the young patient was being transported from the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Regional Hospital in Mbizana to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, when the staff was hijacked at gunpoint.
The MEC said “the thugs” forced the two EMS crew members and the patient out of the ambulance. She said the Department had arranged for another ambulance to take the patient to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.
“This has left the two EMS crew members and the 8-year-old patient traumatised by this senseless attack.
“We will offer counselling to the EMS crew members and the patient. We are relieved that the employees and patient escaped with no physical injuries.
“This hijacking also means we will now have one less ambulance to service the Alfred Nzo district, which will compromise our ability to respond to emergencies, timeously,” MEC Capa said.
She called on police to “leave no stone unturned in their investigation”, while calling on communities to work with law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.
According to the Department of Health, two ambulances were pelted with stones in the Alfred Nzo district earlier this year, but it said attacks on ambulances were a “province-wide” problem.
