Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff in the Western Cape have been left traumatised after their ambulance was stoned on the N2 near Macassar in Cape Town.
The attack, which occurred on the N2 in the early hours of Sunday, has been condemned by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness.
While transporting a patient in the early hours of 15 March 2026, the EMS vehicle was stoned.
The department’s EMS spokesperson, Shimoney Regter, said: “We can confirm that the patient and our staff are safe, however, our EMS staff are traumatised by the senseless incident and required hospital assessment; they have since been discharged.
“This incident forms part of a worrying pattern of violence against emergency medical services in the Western Cape.”
Since the start of the reporting period (April 2025) to date, the Department has recorded 90 safety-related incidents involving EMS personnel and vehicles.
These include 23 stoning incidents, 23 physical threats, 12 robberies, 9 cases of verbal abuse, 8 cases of thefts, 8 verbal threats and 7 assaults.
“These figures highlight the ongoing and unacceptable risks faced daily by EMS staff while responding to emergencies,” Regter said.
Regter added that they provide comprehensive mental health and trauma support for EMS staff through their Employee Health and Wellness Programme, which includes counselling, trauma debriefing, and psychosocial support to help staff recover after such incidents.
“Attacks on EMS staff are unacceptable and put both staff and patients at serious risk. Our health workers are dedicated servants of the public, working under high-pressure conditions to save lives. They must be able to perform their duties without fear of violence.
“We are working closely with the South African Police Service to investigate this incident. The department appeals to everyone to help ensure the safety of our EMS personnel. Health workers are here to care for everyone,” Regter said.
“We all have a role to play in keeping them and our patients safe, so they can continue saving lives.”
Western Cape Health and Wellness MEC Mireille Wenger has emphasised the importance of protecting healthcare workers and emergency services.
“Attacks on healthcare workers and emergency vehicles are completely unacceptable and place lives at risk.
“Our emergency services exist to help people in their most vulnerable moments. When ambulances or healthcare staff are attacked, it delays care not only for the patient in that vehicle but for others in the community who may be waiting for urgent medical assistance. Our healthcare workers dedicate their lives to serving communities and saving lives,” Wenger said.
“They must never become targets while doing that work. These attacks undermine emergency care for everyone and cannot be tolerated. We call on communities to stand with us in protecting the people who respond when lives are on the line.”
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, said that this weekend’s attack was completely unacceptable.
“Emergency services respond when people are injured, sick, or in danger. Attacking an ambulance that is trying to save lives is reckless and puts both medical staff and patients at risk. Sadly, this kind of violence is not isolated,” Cameron said.
“Police officers experience the same thing far too often when responding to incidents, especially in high-risk areas, as we saw again this weekend. Emergency responders should never have to fear being attacked simply for doing their jobs,” he said.
“Very often, when police then follow up and investigate, ‘no one knows’ who stoned them. There must be consequences for those responsible,” Cameron said.
“If we allow attacks on emergency services to become normalised, we undermine the very systems meant to protect and assist our communities. Respect for emergency services is non-negotiable.”
Theolin Tembo
iol.co.za