Ambulance Robbed in Bonteheuwel While Responding to Sick Elderly Resident
CCN Editor & Reporter – George April
Bonteheuwel:- Paramedics attending to a critically ill elderly resident in Bluegum Avenue were robbed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the area.
According to local ward councillor Angus McKenzie, the crew was responding to a medical emergency when they were targeted. The incident raised fears that repeated attacks on emergency services could lead to Bonteheuwel being declared a “red zone” – an area where ambulances, fire services, and paramedics require armed escorts before entering, potentially causing dangerous delays in life-saving responses.
McKenzie stressed that the perpetrators were not outsiders but individuals from the community itself. In his initial appeal, he urged residents: “Who did this? If you know anything, contact me privately.
We must stop this before Bonteheuwel pays the price.”
Positive Turnaround: Suspects Tracked and Arrested Within Hours
In a swift follow-up, law enforcement agencies tracked down the suspects just hours later. The perpetrators were arrested, and the stolen goods were recovered. Police also found them in possession of bullets, adding to the severity of the charges.
McKenzie welcomed the rapid action, stating: “I don’t take drama from gangsters and criminals. When you rob an ambulance, a service that exists to save lives, you are not just committing a crime, you are attacking the entire community.”
He emphasised community solidarity with frontline workers who assist mothers, fathers, children, and grandparents daily. “For the criminals who think they can terrorise our streets, there is really only one place for you: jail,” McKenzie added.
The quick resolution was described as good news for decent residents, sending a strong message that crime will not be tolerated. This incident occurs against a backdrop of well-documented challenges in parts of the Cape Flats, where certain high-crime neighbourhoods have been classified as red zones, requiring police escorts for emergency services to protect crews from attacks or ambushes.
Such measures, while necessary for staff safety, can extend response times and put patients at greater risk.
Bonteheuwel residents and emergency personnel have long dealt with the impact of gang-related violence and crime on daily life and essential services.
McKenzie concluded by reinforcing that protecting the community remains a shared responsibility.
#Bonteheuwel #JusticeServed #ProtectOurCommunity
