Another paramedic crew has been left traumatised after being robbed at gunpoint in Mitchells Plain on Friday morning.
Just after 1am, a Melomed paramedic crew were dispatched and en route to the hospital with a code red patient in the vehicle when they were held up by two robbers on AZ Berman Drive in Lentegeur.
The skelms pulled a gun on the crew and robbed them of their cellphones, medical cards, an undisclosed amount of cash and a Swiss army knife.
A female paramedic, who asked not to be named, says the passion they once had for the job has been replaced with fear.
“We used to love what we do, but now it’s a risk just clocking in,” she says.
“We chose this job to help others, yet we’re targets. We’re sitting ducks. The very people we set out to help are going to be our demise. I was beaten to a pulp for my phone while on the job and I know the fear of staring death in the eye. Must one of us first die?”
Last week, paramedics across the country started arming themselves for their own safety and the patients they treat.
President of the SA Emergency Personnel Union, Mpho Mpogeng, called on all the union’s 7 000 members to arm themselves over the festive season following a spate of more than 30 attacks on members in the past six months.
“Our position is very clear. We are treating fire with fire. We don’t have to be apologe- tic when dealing with crime because crime will remain crime,” he says.
“It’s happening, our paramedics are arming themselves and going out on duty. This is our only option, we are on our own.”
Police spokesman, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms Friday’s robbery.
“On Friday about 1.15am, the complainant, a 25-year-old male (an ambulance driver) and his passenger were driving in AZ Berman Drive, Lentegeur, when they were stopped by two unknown males,” says Van Wyk.
“One of the suspects took out a firearm and pointed it at them. The robbers made off with cellphones, bank and medical cards, and an undisclosed amount of cash.
“No shots were fired or persons injured. An armed robbery case was registered for investigation.”