1 July 2010
The Tshwane Metro Police Department has promised swift action against any members found harassing or preventing city paramedics from trying to save the lives of patients.
This was revealed following a month-long investigation by the metro police after the Pretoria News exposed how metro police officers were allegedly putting the lives of hundreds of sick and injured Pretoria residents in jeopardy by allegedly stopping paramedics from attending to emergencies.
Several ambulance services approached the Pretoria News last month after a police officer allegedly stopped two paramedics from saving the life of Warrant Officer Andries Minnaar, who died outside the Sars office in the city centre.
Minnaar was off-duty when he was found in his car.
It is believed he died from a heart attack.
Several ambulance services, including Lifemed Ambulance Service and ER24, said at the time the harassment included paramedics having guns drawn on them, ambulances being forced off the road, paramedics being prevented from providing life-saving medical treatment and being followed to hospitals where they were issued with fines.
Most of the harassment, say paramedics, involved law enforcement officers stopping ambulances apparently because the emergency lights were red and white and not plain red in accordance with the road traffic regulations for emergency response vehicles.
This was despite the lights being fitted by approved dealerships.
The outcome of the initial investigation was revealed after questions were sent to the metro police earlier in June.
Metro police spokesman Director Mel Vosloo said the initial investigation had revealed that three cases of complaints by ambulance services had been lodged against the metro police.
"Two of the complaints are from Netcare 911, which was charged with displaying illegal warning lights, and one was from Bestcare, which has laid a charge of assault against the metro police department," he said.
"Management will decide on the final course of action to be taken.
"As stated before, the breaking of the law by members of the Community Safety Department will not be condoned," he said, and urged paramedics who experienced problems with metro police officers to contact management urgently.
Vosloo said the investigation, which had still to be completed, had also revealed that some ambulance companies were using scanners to illegally obtain information on accidents and incidents to dispatch their ambulances.
"There appear to be 'working relationships' between certain law enforcement officers and breakdown companies who inform ambulance services of incidents in return for remuneration.
"This will form part of our investigation," he said, adding that the department was committed to a clean administration and would take action against anyone from any sector that broke the law.
Anyone who is aware of metro police officers breaking the law is asked to contact Nic Calegero on 072 731 2345.
* This article by Graeme Hoskin was originally published on page 2 of The Pretoria News on June 29, 2010
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