A group of paramedics marched through the streets of Mfuleni on Saturday to protest against attacks on them. In March, two female Emergency Medical Services workers were reportedly robbed at gunpoint and beaten while responding to an emergency in Extension 4.
Paramedic Athenkosi Sobanda said, “The aim for this peaceful demonstration is to raise awareness in the community of Mfuleni about these attacks and also to stand in solidarity with our colleagues.”
He said his colleagues are still traumatised despite receiving counselling.
“They are here with us today, but they are scared to talk about what happened that night, because it is like reliving the whole incident,” he said.
Paramedic and patient in danger
Sobanda said waiting for police escorts can take hours and can put the life of the person in need of medical attention at risk. He hoped that by building a relationship with the community, paramedics wouldn’t have to wait for an escort.
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The EMS staff were joined by the Mfuleni community policing forum (CPF), the neighbourhood watch, and community members.
Mfuleni CPF spokesperson Mvano Magula said, “We will not tolerate these attacks anymore. We are now working closer with the police and the community to make sure that the emergency services workers are protected at all costs. The message is clear, and these criminals have seen us and heard us as we were going around the streets.”
This article was first published by GroundUp.
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