Cape Times

Ambulance crew member sexually harassed

- CHEVON BOOYSEN chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

POLICE have opened cases of common assault and malicious damage to property after an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crew member was sexually harassed at a garage kiosk in Mitchells Plain at the weekend.

Police spokespers­on FC van Wyk said: “We can confirm that cases of common assault and malicious damage to property were registered for investigat­ion. According to reports the complainan­t (an ambulance passenger) was on duty with her partner when they stopped at a garage in Eisleben Road, Lentegeur.

“In the shop at the paypoint an unidentifi­ed man started touching her (the complainan­t) and then hit her twice in the face. Her partner tried to stop the suspect. He then picked up a stone and threw it at the ambulance, damaging the rear window.”

Police say the suspects fled the scene on foot and are yet to be arrested.

EMS spokespers­on Robert Daniels said the female employee was approached by two men on Saturday about 11.30pm.

“A woman EMS practition­er was threatened, sexually harassed and physically assaulted by two adult men at a service centre kiosk in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, while her partner was waiting for her in their response vehicle. She managed to get away from her attackers to the safety of the ambulance, but the attackers proceeded to stone the ambulance from behind as the crew rushed from the scene,” Daniels said.

The crew has been offered counsellin­g . “Community members are urged to help keep EMS crews safe. An attack on an EMS crew is an attack on your own community,” Daniels said.

Anyone with any informatio­n about this incident can anonymousl­y contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.

A man started touching her and hit her twice in the face. He then threw a stone at the ambulance

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