Ambulance hijacked, burned

An ambulance was hijacked and burnt in the UMgungundlovu District in KwaZulu Natal on Monday night.

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Johannesburg - An ambulance was hijacked and burnt in the UMgungundlovu District in KwaZulu Natal on Monday night, said the health department.

KZN Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo on Tuesday said: “This is a very crucial time for our medical emergency vehicles and staff members. Our personnel are not on holiday but serving the needs of the people in distress; they deserve to be protected by all.”

The incident occurred at around 22h00, after the UMgungundlovu Communication Room received a call for a maternity case in the Empolweni area.

The ambulance was dispatched three minutes after the call. When the ambulance arrived at Empolweni Location D15 it was hijacked at gunpoint by two males.

The armed men demanded cellphones from the pair of crew members and thereafter told them to run. The hijackers made off with two cellphones, but not before they set alight the ambulance.

“Whilst we are relieved that our crew members are safe and have been referred to Employee Assistance Programme for counselling; we nonetheless decry the destruction of this much valuable and needed medical emergency vehicle,” Dhlomo said.

The incident has been reported to Crammond police.

ANA