Eastern Cape police hunt for hijacked ambulance after crew, 8-year-old dumped on roadside at night

The Eastern Cape health department and the police were hunting for one of the province’s ambulances on Tuesday after the vehicle was hijacked near Qumbu.

The crew and their patient, an eight-year-old, who was being taken to Nelson Mandela Bay Hospital in Mthatha, were left at the side of the road.

Department spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase confirmed the incident, saying the vehicle and equipment alone were worth R1-million. 

“The ambulance has not been recovered yet,” he said.

Ndamase said Eastern Cape health MEC Ntandokazi Capa has condemned the targeting of healthcare workers and staff, saying this compromised service delivery.

The ambulance, which was transporting the child from the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Regional Hospital in Mbizana, was hijacked at gunpoint and the crew and young patient were forced out and left stranded until another ambulance picked them up. 

“This attack has left the two EMS crew members and the eight-year-old patient traumatised by this senseless attack. We will offer counselling to the EMS crew members and the patient. We are relieved that the employees and patient escaped with no physical injuries,” Capa said.

“This hijacking also means we will now have one less ambulance to service the Alfred Nzo District, which will compromise our ability to respond to emergencies, timeously,” she added.

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“We are calling on the police to leave no stone unturned in their investigation. Communities should also work with law enforcement agencies so that those behind these heinous crimes can be brought to book.” 

This is the fourth vehicle from the health department to be hijacked in the Alfred Nzo District, which borders KwaZulu-Natal. DM