Another attack on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff has been reported in Cape Town, after an EMS vehicle was hijacked in Khayelitsha on Monday.  

The Western Cape SAPS confirmed that Lingelethu West police are investigating the incident that occurred at a shopping mall at around 14:30.  

Spokesperson, Constable Ndakhe Gwala, said a police report notes that armed suspects approached a 56-year-old woman and forced the woman into the EMS vehicle before driving off with her inside. 

According to the provincial Department of Health and Wellness, the employee was planning to make her way to the EMS base in the area at the time.  

Gwala said it’s believed that a bystander informed officers of the incident, which led to a search. The staffer was later found unharmed.  

“While our staff member was not physically harmed, she is traumatised and is receiving counselling and support through our employee wellness programme,” read the department’s statement.  

Both authorities confirmed that the EMS vehicle that was hijacked was later found, with significant damage. 

“An EMS double cab response vehicle was recovered just after 16:00 on the same day and was damaged, with the dashboard ripped open, found with scratches and the canopy missing,” read the department’s statement. 

MEC for Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, has urged anyone with information on the incident to report to the police. She further urged communities to stand together against violence on frontline workers. 

“These attacks on our healthcare services not only impacts our staff and their wellbeing, but their families and entire communities. Our message is clear: enough is enough. We must work together to ensure that our EMS personnel can carry out their duties safely. Their safety is essential to the wellbeing of every community they serve.” 

Gwala confirmed that a case of carjacking and “manstealing” (otherwise known as kidnapping) has been opened.  

“The suspects are still at large, investigation is ongoing.” 

This incident follows the death of an EMS worker after a smash-and-grab incident in Elsies River last Thursday. 

READ MORE: EMS Staff Member Dies Following Smash-and-Grab Incident in Cape Town – Smile 90.4FM

The City of Cape Town says there is currently no confirmed intelligence pointing to a large-scale shutdown or civil unrest on 30 June, but they are taking a precautionary approach.

Smaller marches have taken place in several suburbs in the lead-up to the supposed mass action, but these have been peaceful.

The MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the Directorate is actively monitoring the situation and the necessary operational plans are in place to deal effectively with any potential threats or incidents that may arise.

He says the city is working with police and other relevant partners, and enforcement will be able to deploy rapidly should the need arise.

“We remain committed to maintaining stability and minimising any potential disruption, particularly given the importance of protecting Cape Town’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination. Any unlawful behaviour, including intimidation or violence, will be addressed decisively.”

Smith has encouraged businesses to continue normal operations while remaining vigilant.

Residents can phone 021 480 7700 or utilise our anonymous tip-off line 0800 11 0077 to notify the City of any planned unrest.

Meanwhile, a Ward Councillor for the Table View and Parklands area, Jonathan Mills, has dismissed fears over a planned March & March protest in Parklands this Saturday, 27 June, appealing to the community to remain calm.

Mills says the current “fears of chaos” are greater than the risks that they have been monitoring.

He says no permit has been applied for or granted for the Parklands march, which means numbers will be limited, noting that other similar marches across the City, including Claremont and Sea Point, have been attended by between 40 and 60 people.

But Mills says they are monitoring the situation closely, ready to take action against anyone who resorts to violence.

“Across Cape Town, the response to these pre-election campaigns of fear is much more muted than the rest of our country because we are building a functional and inclusive City. We don’t have the desperation and the need for scapegoating that results from communities and services collapsing – taking people’s livelihoods and investments down with it.”

The civil society group, Forum for South Africa (FOSA), has criticised and voiced suspicion over the Police Ministry’s spending on security for the 30 June protests.  

Earlier this week, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced that R600 million would be spent on safety and security operations in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape, ahead of national anti-illegal immigration protests planned for 30 June.  

READ MORE: 30 June Protests: Security preparations costing the country R600 million – Smile 90.4FM

FOSA has, however, questioned whether that money would actually go to policing or whether some would “disappear into corruption networks”. 

Spokesperson Tebogo Mashilompane said the allocation is not reflective of leadership.  

“This is panic spending, political posturing, and a potential looting opportunity disguised as intervention,” said Mashilompane.  

He also questioned the basis of the R600 million calculation and demanded a detailed breakdown of how it will be spent.  

“South Africans have seen this script before: big numbers, no transparency, and billions gone.” 

FOSA argued that government failures in addressing illegal immigration, border security and crime were now being masked by a large spending announcement ahead of the planned demonstrations. 

The group also criticised the decision to deploy both police and military forces, describing it as potentially wasteful. 

“South Africans are tired of being treated like fools. We will not accept: wasteful spending; corruption disguised as intervention; a government that only acts when exposed or pressured… If government has nothing to hide, it must open the books now,” read the FOSA statement. 

Langa library had to close its doors this week following vandalism just weeks after a R600,000 upgrade of the facility.

The MMC for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, says the library was broken into at the weekend, and it appears that components of their CPUs and a significant amount of cabling were stolen.

The facility has had to close while the full extent of the damage is assessed and repairs begin.

Higham has condemned this attack on a community asset.

“It is children losing a safe space to read, study and learn, especially during the ongoing exams and with the school holidays approaching.”

Teams are assessing the damage and working to restore services as quickly as possible.

Higham says anyone with information that could assist law enforcement should report it to the City’s emergency number on 021 480 7700.

“We cannot allow the actions of a few criminals to take that away from an entire community.”