Cape Town - Emergency personnel working on the Cape Flats risk their lives, especially on weekends, to save lives in areas where they are seen as easy targets for criminals.
Between 2012 and 2016, 231 paramedics were attacked on the Cape Flats.
According to officials speaking at a community meeting last week, these attacks have directly affected the ability of EMS staff to do their jobs.
In response to the attacks, 12 areas across Cape Town have been declared “red zones”. This means that EMS staff only enter these areas when escorted by the police. Most of the attacks on EMS personnel happened on weekends, during the evening and early morning.
Last week EMS provincial manager Phumzile Papu said the province’s ambulance service was losing personnel to the private sector and other provinces owing to their dangerous conditions.
“More than 80 of our staff are sitting at home because, psychologically, they are not fit because of the attacks.
“Once we force them to go to dangerous areas, they book off sick,” he said.