Two paramedics were robbed of all their valuables on Saturday evening while attending to an emergency in Khayelitsha.
The two male respondents were held at gunpoint close to St John’s Church in Section 35, Harare, where they were robbed of all their personal possessions including wedding bands, cellphones and wallets.
The incident has left both provincial department of health staff members traumatised.
According to witnesses, the paramedics were slowing down at a four-way stop close to a Catholic church in the area when four men approached the vehicle, two holding guns.
“They shouted at the ambulance workers, demanding their stuff. We saw them give their stuff to the robbers and we really thought they would hurt them,” the resident told the Daily Voice.
“They gave everything quickly because they were being threatened. The robbers ran off. It was all over quickly and luckily the paramedics were not hurt. They drove away immediately.”
Just last week, medics were lucky to escape after being robbed at gunpoint in Kraaifontein.
EMS spokesperson Robert Daniels called it “a crime of opportunity.”
“On Saturday at 8pm, a Western Cape government Health EMS ambulance was robbed at gunpoint near the Saint John’s Church in Section 35, Harare, Khayelitsha,” he said.
“The two male EMS practitioners were robbed of personal belongings and left severely traumatised. A criminal case was opened with the police and the victims of the attack are both receiving trauma counselling.”
SAPS’ Noloyiso Rwexana says: “Two EMS personnel were responding to a call when they were robbed by four unknown suspects, two armed.
“No shots were fired and no one has been arrested.”