APPALLING INCIDENT OF PARAMEDS ROBBED AT GUNPOINT

I am appalled by the reported incident of three paramedics of the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) who were held at gunpoint and robbed while attending to a patient in Yeoville in the early hours of Thursday morning (29 January).

An armed man pointed a firearm at them while they were treating a patient in the ambulance, and demanded their belongings, including their wallets and cellphones. He then fled after they handed over their belongings.

They were fortunately not injured but obviously suffer from the shock of his incident.

It seems that nothing is sacred anymore when people saving lives are attacked in an ambulance.

There has been an increase in such incidents according to Johannesburg EMS, which highlights the need for great law enforcement in general.

This type of thing can only happen because perpetrators have no morality and think they can get away with anything.

I hope that the police catch the perpetrator in this incident who should get an aggravated sentence for attacking medical personnel.

Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, 29 January 2016