The men who attacked and raped one of two women paramedics who were attending to a burnt toddler had behaved like animals, President Jacob Zuma said in Johannesburg on Sunday.
“It was very disturbing to hear that people providing a service to the community were violated in such a cruel manner … Those criminals behaved like animals,” he said addressing staff at the Roodepoort Fire Station and a crowd of more than 500 people who gathered inside and outside the station.
On the night of March 6, three men confronted paramedics when they arrived in Durban Deep in Roodepoort to help a toddler who had suffered burn wounds. According to the police, the trio threatened the two male paramedics and told them to run away,
otherwise they would shoot them. They then raped one female paramedic and attempted to rape the other.
Zuma said he had spoken to the victims, their families, the head of emergency services in Roodepoort and police investigating the matter.
“I am happy that after this incident they [the paramedics] are still prepared to work. These criminals should be arrested as soon as possible.”
He said they had also agreed on plan with the police in which female paramedics would be accompanied by the police officers when going to dangerous areas to avoid the attacks.
Zuma said it was also reported to him that the area where the incident occurred had long grass that criminals used as a hiding spot. He appealed to the City of Johannesburg to cut it.
He also called on citizens to work with the police in fighting crime.
“A lot still needs to be done but government alone will not succeed. Let us work together with the police because criminals pounce at a very weak point.”
Zuma said the police were investigating the matter
vigorously and were following leads.
Meanwhile, he also sent his condolences to the families of four pupils who were killed in alleged drag-racing incident in Soweto last Monday and promised to meet the families after the funeral. – Sapa