SHOT MAN: COPS, EMS FAILED TO ASSIST ME
MBABANE - Mcebisi Nhlabatsi, who was allegedly shot by a community police member at Mncitsini, has accused police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel of failing to offer him assistance after the incident.
MBABANE - A man has decried unfairness after he did not get immediate assistance after being shot.
Mcebisi Nhlabatsi claimed he was shot at Mncitsini area in Mbabane had to make means to get to hospital after Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel allegedly told him that they were afraid to come to his aid.
Nhlabatsi alleged that he was shot by a community police member on Thursday last week and after being turned down by the EMS he called the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) who, instead of coming to assist, advised him to make means of getting to hospital where they would meet him.
He said the police did not contact him thereafter.
“I could not rush to the hospital until the following day resulting in me losing a lot of blood. Fortunately, I was able to get blood donated for me by my family members. I was told they would come as soon as I got to the hospital but they did not until today,” he said. Nhlabatsi said the shooting incident happened at around 11pm when he met a group of people beating up another man.
Claimed
He claimed that as he was offering help to the one who was assaulted, the community police member who was among them opened fire.
He further said he was disappointed that the community police member had not yet been arrested.
Nhlabatsi expressed his disappointment with the police force, stating that they did their job only when it suited them.
However, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said they did not know anything about the case.
“We do not know of such a case but rather have one with a similar name but the difference is that the other one was butchered and we have found him and opened a case,” she said
Meanwhile, EMS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Wandile Mthembu stated that the safety of the paramedics was important.
He said in instances where violence may accrue, they then sought assistance from the police.
“The safety of the paramedic is as important too that is why we first weigh the risks and then seek assistance from the police. I am not familiar with the story as yet but if the paramedics felt going there would have put their lives in danger, they did the right thing to wait for the police to escort them to the scene,” the PRO said.