The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness recorded 20 hijackings involving government vehicles over the past two financial years, raising concerns about the safety of frontline workers travelling into communities to provide essential services.
Internal departmental records show that 12 hijackings were reported during the 2025/26 financial year, while another eight had been recorded during 2026/27 by 27 August.
Khayelitsha was among the areas most affected, with five hijackings reported there in 2025/26 and three during the current financial year.
The incidents come amid wider concern over attacks on frontline government workers, including social workers, child protection officials and healthcare employees.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness said crime could affect both staff and service delivery.
“The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness recognises the safety concerns faced by healthcare workers who travel into communities to provide essential services,” the department said.
“Incidents of crime can be distressing for employees and may also affect the timely delivery of care to residents.”
The department said its figures were operational records based on incidents reported directly to it. Government Motor Transport and the Western Cape Government’s Department of Mobility remained the authoritative sources for official government vehicle statistics.
Emergency Medical Services has introduced several measures to protect crews and patients, including a safety desk, vehicle and crew tracking systems, emergency alerts and cooperation with SAPS and local law enforcement.
Where an area or scene is considered unsafe, crews may be required to wait at a secure rendezvous point or for a police or law enforcement escort before entering.
The department acknowledged that these precautions could affect emergency response times.
Anti-hijacking awareness campaigns
“While this may occasionally affect response times, these decisions are made carefully to support the safety of both staff and patients,” it said.
Anti-hijacking awareness campaigns have been conducted across the Cape metropolitan area and rural districts, with further campaigns planned during the 2026/27 financial year.
The department is also engaging law enforcement agencies about escorts in areas considered high risk. Counselling, debriefing and trauma support are available to employees affected by hijackings, robberies and other crime-related incidents.
However, the department said it did not have a consolidated figure showing how many employees had resigned, requested transfers or taken extended leave specifically because of crime and safety concerns.
The health department’s figures follow similar concerns raised by the Western Cape Department of Social Development.
Hotspot areas identified
DSD previously confirmed 22 hijacking and attempted-hijacking incidents involving employees during the current financial year, compared with 17 during the entire 2025/26 financial year. The figures exclude assaults and other attacks.
Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga, Delft and Mfuleni were identified as hotspots.
Three incidents were recorded in Khayelitsha within one week. In one case, a policy developer attached to the Child Protection programme was shot at during a monitoring visit to a non-profit organisation. She escaped and reached safety at a nearby petrol station.
In separate incidents, a Facilities Management employee was hijacked at gunpoint in his driveway after completing a shift, while a social worker was hijacked during a home visit.
Employees suffered PTSD
DSD spokesperson Esther Lewis said the attacks had taken a serious toll on employees. Some had suffered post-traumatic stress or physical injuries, while child and youth care workers had required extended leave.
At least one employee had resigned after a hijacking and three had requested transfers.
Lewis said the violence was affecting service delivery, causing delays in responses to clients. In some cases, residents had been asked to travel to DSD offices or designated child-protection organisations because social workers could not safely enter certain communities.
Lucinda Evans, founder of the Philisa Abafazi Bethu Women Centre, said communities often complained about delayed services without considering the threats faced by workers, their workloads and their mental wellbeing.
She called for greater use of provincial law enforcement escorts, particularly for teams responding to child protection matters after hours.
“We cannot have the services stop,” Evans said.
Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
iol.co.za
