Health and Wellness

1. A total of 206 incidents involving attacks on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and/or emergency response vehicles were recorded in the Western Cape over the three financial years from 2023 to 2026.
2. The five operational areas that recorded the highest number of EMS attacks over the three financial years from 2023 to 2026 are:

3. The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCDHW) does not maintain records of arrests or convictions relating to attacks on EMS personnel.
4. The WCDHW has implemented several measures to improve the safety and security of EMS personnel, including:

• Risk-based dispatch protocols for identified high-risk areas.
• Close collaboration with SAPS and local law enforcement to provide security escorts where operationally required.
• Continuous monitoring and updating of identified high-risk ("Red Zone") areas, with operational responses adjusted according to prevailing threat levels.
• Vehicle tracking systems and emergency communication technologies to enhance crew safety and enable rapid response to security incidents.
• Ongoing engagement with Community Policing Forums, neighbourhood watches, community leaders and other stakeholders to improve community awareness and facilitate safer access to affected areas.
• Staff awareness programmes and training on personal safety, conflict avoidance and incident reporting.
• Regular review and analysis of security incidents to identify trends and strengthen mitigation strategies.
• Collaboration with provincial and local government partners to support broader initiatives aimed at reducing violence against emergency service personnel.

The WCDHW remains committed to strengthening these interventions to ensure that our EMS personnel can continue to provide essential emergency medical services safely while maintaining uninterrupted service delivery to the communities of the Western Cape.