It's 7:30 p.m. in the South African city of Cape Town. Paramedic Papinki Lebelo wears an expression of deep frustration as he waits in his ambulance outside the Philippi East police station. He's ...

Each of South Africa’s nine provinces has a Department of Health with a government ambulance service. In addition, the country has some 200 private ambulance services nationwide.

Waiting inside the ambulance was Ntintini's partner, Ntombikayisi Joko, who has narrowly escaped ambush while on duty and was robbed in 2021 while waiting for directions to a call-out.

Four of South Africa's top five homicide hotspots last year were in the Cape Flats, according to police figures. The Western Cape -- one of nine provinces -- recorded more than 12 people murdered ...

Ambulance crews are soft targets for criminals looking to steal phones, money or medical equipment, said Pastor Craven Engel, who runs a gang violence prevention organisation called Ceasefire.