Union: Time has come for panic buttons in ambulances
South African Emergency Personnel's Union (SAEPU) has
expressed concern over the increase in attacks on emergency personnel while on
duty.
In just two weeks, there have been four attacks and robberies on emergency personnel.
Three of these incidents took place in KwaZulu-Natal, while the last one occurred in Soweto on Thursday.
SAEPU's CEO Mpho Mpogeng says their plea to the government to provide protection have fallen on death ears.
He adds every time incidents of this nature are reported government of officials only condemn but fail to implement measures to protect emergency personnel.
Mpogeng says the union has called on the government to install panic buttons and cameras in ambulances.
"We have also made a call to have armed response vehicle only to hot spot areas where we know ambulances will not come back safe.”
Listen below:
Mpogeng also believes government’s refusal to allow personnel to arm themselves only serves to protect the criminals.
"The state doesn't care because their vehicles are safe, their equipment is safe because if their ambulances were stolen, we would have vehicles with trackers and panic buttons."
Listen below:
Joburg ambulance crew robbed while attending to a call out
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services [EMS] ambulance staff were rubbered at gun point in Soweto in the early hours of Thursday morning.