Two firefighters from Cape Town were ambushed and assaulted during the early hours of Saturday morning [October 17] while on a call out to a fire in Wallacedene. The incident was confirmed by Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
This is the second attack on firefireghters in recent weeks.
Smith said the two City firefighters had to receive treatment at hospital after being assaulted in Wallacedene.
“The crew from Brackenfell responded to a call about a fire, and on arrival, two of them made their way between the structures to investigate the source of smoke they were seeing. They were accosted by three men who threatened them at gunpoint and robbed them of their belongings, before assaulting them,” said Smith.
They later found out there was in fact no fire, and it was a trap to lure them.
“Attacks on the City’s frontline staff are becoming all too commonplace, especially our firefighters. These officers provide a lifesaving service and every incident of this nature chips away at the trust between the fire service and the communities they serve,” said Smith.
On September 25, a City firefighter was threatened with a gun and robbed of a radio whilst at a fire call in Khayelitsha. The crew still continued their work, extinguished the fire and then went to the police station to lay charges.
The City appeals to anyone with information about this attack to please report it to the City’s Public Emergency Communications Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline. Alternatively, they can report it to SAPS.
Picture: Cape Town Fire Service/Facebook