Paramedics are an essential service provide in South Africa, responding to emergency to save lives and risking theirs. In the last decade, attacks on ambulance services and the like have grown at an alarming rate but our safety remains a casual consideration.

13 years ago I, a paramedic, wrote a letter to HPCSA ( Health Professional Council Of SA ) asking them if we ( Paramedics ) should carry a firearm as a precaution to protect ourselves while we are on duty. This was out of seeing that we were being targeted while on duty.

Their answer was NO..( No Mr Leburu there's no war in South Africa so we don't see the reason of Paramedics handling firearms with them especially when their are on duty we understand that you used to be a medic at SANDF but our street are perfectly safe # Thanks for your concern)

Guess what 13 years later the president of SAEPU Mpho Mpogeng out of anger in a press conference, told Paramedics to carry a firearm at work because of government wasn't doing enough in providing a safe environment for Paramedics.

Mr Raveen Naidoo the director of EMS & Disaster Management at department of Health wasn't pleased with Mpho's statement.

• Two ambulance crews have been attacked while on duty in parts of Cape Town.
• Two paramedics responded to a call in Surrey Estate on Saturday afternoon and they were assaulted allegedly by the patient's family.
• PATIENT ATTACKS PARAMEDICS WITH PAINTBALL GUN IN KZN
• In the latest of 16 attacks on ambulances in 2019, paramedics who were ambushed in Nyanga had their belongings stolen.
• AMBULANCE CREW ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN SOWETO, CT PARAMEDICS ATTACK CONDEMNED

2023 August I am asking that you join me in demanding that government takes our lives seriously! We risk everything to ensure others lives are saved, and therefore ours should also be looked after. South Africa, please rally behind this petition and demand compulsory accompanying armed private security or police for all paramedics. Protect our lives! End the attacks on paramedics.