Cape Town – Police in Mpumalanga say paramedics were held hostage while a group of suspects stripped the ambulance of its parts on Sunday.
In a statement, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said that Emergency Medical Services received a call about a woman in labour at a farm on the Spitzkop Road near Belfast.
“An ambulance, a VW Crafter was then dispatched to attend. At around 21h30. It is said that a follow-up call was received by the paramedics whereby the caller requested to meet with the medical staff at a certain spot for the direction to the scene. Little did the medical staff know that this was an orchestrated robbery which was paraded as an emergency call,” Mohlala said.
When the paramedics arrived, two men wearing balaclavas that covered their faces approached them. They allegedly took the paramedic’s cell phones and bound them with cable ties.
The suspects then drove the ambulance to a different location, where five more suspects were noticed.
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The suspects allegedly stole R300 000 in ambulance parts, including the gearbox, engine, two tyres, and battery.
The parts were loaded into another vehicle. The suspects gave the paramedics their cell phones back.
“The victims later managed to alert their supervisor and directed them to the location where they were. They (victims) were then rescued and the incident reported to the police at Belfast where a case of robbery was reported. A manhunt has since been launched for the suspects,” said Mohlala.
Belfast police pleaded with the public to assist with information on the whereabouts of the suspects.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
