Pretoria — Two Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) officials were targeted in an armed attack on the N1 in the early hours of Saturday, 29 August, while moving a patient between hospitals, the Gauteng Department of Health confirmed.
What happened on the N1
According to the department, the ambulance was allegedly spiked shortly after passing Phumlani Plaza at about 01:30. The crew stopped to assess the vehicle when two male suspects approached and fired shots at the ambulance.
The paramedics were not hit. One of the crew members took cover nearby while the other drove the vehicle away from the scene. Emergency services were swiftly alerted and additional Gauteng EMS crews attended, together with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the department said.
“The Gauteng Department of Health condemns in the strongest terms the armed attack on two Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel while performing their duties in the early hours of this morning, Saturday, 29 August,” said department spokesperson Steve Mabona.
Patient and staff after the incident
The patient being transported remained stable and was transferred to another ambulance before being safely taken to Jubilee Hospital, the department confirmed. Both EMS officials were later taken for medical evaluation and the department has activated employee wellness services to support them.
- Time: About 01:30 on Saturday, 29 August.
- Location: N1, shortly after Phumlani Plaza (Pretoria stretch of the highway).
- Victims: Two Gauteng EMS personnel (uninjured) and a patient (uninjured).
- Response: Additional Gauteng EMS crews and SAPS attended; patient transferred to Jubilee Hospital.
Wider concerns for emergency services in Gauteng
Gauteng Health used the incident to highlight a worrying pattern of attacks on frontline workers. Mabona said the department is deeply concerned about the risks EMS personnel face while performing lifesaving duties around the clock and warned that such attacks have consequences beyond the immediate victims.
The department called on members of the public to help safeguard EMS teams and assist law enforcement in identifying and apprehending the suspects. No arrests have been reported in the department’s statement.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Ambulance spiked | Shortly after Phumlani Plaza on the N1 |
| Shots fired | Two male suspects approached and opened fire; EMS crew unharmed |
| Patient outcome | Remained stable; transferred and taken to Jubilee Hospital |
| Follow-up | EMS wellness services activated; SAPS responded |
The attack raises practical concerns for Pretoria residents who depend on prompt emergency response. Ambulances are not only vehicles transporting patients; they are mobile lifelines. When crews are threatened, response times can increase, staff can be traumatised, and routine transfers between hospitals become riskier — all of which affect ordinary people waiting for help on the other end.
Local motorists and highway users are also reminded to take precautions. If a vehicle is suspected of having a spike or any fault on a busy highway, the safest option is to move to a sheltered area where possible and to call for assistance rather than stopping in a lane of traffic. For EMS crews, standard protocol is to secure the scene and request back-up if they feel unsafe.
For now, Gauteng Health’s appeal is straightforward: anyone with information that could assist the SAPS investigation should come forward. The department emphasised the need for communities to protect those who provide emergency care so that these teams can continue saving lives without fear.
The incident will be monitored for further developments and any announcement from SAPS regarding suspects or arrests.
