Health department condemns kidnapping and robbery of EMS crew

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has strongly condemned the armed robbery and kidnapping of an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crew after they were ambushed while responding to an emergency call at Nkwalini Store on the R34 early on Monday morning.

According to the department, armed suspects held the crew at gunpoint, robbed them of their personal belongings and forced them to drive to at least two taverns, where they had to buy alcohol using their own bank cards. The paramedics were held captive for about four hours before being released. They were not physically injured, although the department said the emotional impact of the ordeal is profound.

‘While responding to a call for help, a call made in the sacred name of saving lives, our staff were held at gunpoint, robbed of their personal belongings, and forced to drive to at least two taverns to purchase alcohol using their own bank cards,’ the department said.

It added that the incident reflects a disturbing trend of attacks on emergency responders.

‘Our EMS staff are heroes, not targets. We will not rest until those who perpetrate such violence against them are brought to justice,’ the department said.

The South African Police Service is investigating the case. The department has appealed to anyone with information to report the suspects to the nearest police station.

The attack comes amid growing concern over the safety of EMS personnel across South Africa. Professor Bryan E. B. Bigham, an internationally recognised emergency medical services researcher and former chair of the International Paramedic Safety Task Force, has previously warned that violence against paramedics is a global public health issue, saying attacks on frontline responders delay patient care, affect staff wellbeing and reduce access to emergency medical services for vulnerable communities.

Research published in the Southern African Journal of Public Health found that workplace violence against public emergency care providers in Gauteng contributes to delayed emergency responses and reduced access to healthcare, particularly in lower-income communities. Recent figures released by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness also show dozens of safety-related incidents involving EMS personnel, including robberies, assaults and physical threats, highlighting that attacks on ambulance crews remain a nationwide concern.