The City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) has strongly condemned an attack on firefighters and a newly delivered fire engine in Soweto on Thursday afternoon, as crews battled a shack fire in the Elias Motswaledi Informal Settlement.
The incident occurred around 3pm, when EMS teams responded to reports of a fire that had broken out among several informal structures. While attempting to extinguish the flames, the firefighters came under attack from a group of residents who began throwing stones at the fire truck — a brand-new, state-of-the-art vehicle handed over to the City just two weeks ago during the launch of the Central Fire Station.
The attack forced the firefighters to abandon the operation temporarily and flee to safety. No injuries were reported, but the vehicle sustained visible damage from the stoning.
EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi expressed deep concern about the growing number of violent incidents targeting emergency workers, warning that such behavior endangers lives and delays critical services.
“Our firefighters were responding to a shack fire when they were attacked by community members,” said Mulaudzi.
“We are deeply concerned because these kinds of incidents put our personnel at risk and delay our response to emergencies. We urge residents to protect our teams and the resources meant to serve them.”
The City has since launched an investigation into the incident to identify those responsible and prevent similar attacks in the future.
Mulaudzi emphasised that EMS teams are there to serve and protect communities, often under challenging and dangerous conditions. He called for greater cooperation and understanding from residents, particularly during emergency responses.
The damaged fire engine, one of the City’s most advanced units, was part of a recent fleet renewal project aimed at improving response times and fire safety across Johannesburg.
