Cape Town firefighters face increasing dangers amid violent crime surge
Rising violence against first responders highlights the dangers faced by Cape Town's emergency services.
Image: Supplied
A City of Cape Town fire crew came under attack while returning to Belhar, the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting emergency services across the metro.
The firefighters were returning to base after putting out a vegetation fire in Connaught Estate when their vehicle was stoned along 35th Street, between Bishop Lavis Drive and Robert Sobukwe Road on October 30.
Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the attack happened at about 10:30pm, near the Malawi Camp informal settlement.
“The driver saw someone standing along the road. The next minute, a brick was hurled at the vehicle, damaging the windscreen,” said Smith.
No one was injured, but the attack has left another emergency vehicle out of service. Because of their selfish actions, a fire engine will be out of commission for repairs, right when we are heading into one of our busiest periods of the year,” Smith said.
He described the attack as “senseless” and appealed to the public to help identify the culprit. “Someone, somewhere knows the person responsible for this incident, and I urge them to please step forward so that the perpetrator can face prosecution,” he said.
The incident highlights the growing danger faced by the City’s emergency personnel.
Earlier this year, the Weekend Argus reported that more than R100 million has been set aside to protect City staff and contractors working in high-risk areas. These include Samora Machel, Delft, Philippi and parts of the CBD, all identified as “red zones” by police due to high levels of violent crime, extortion and protest-related threats.
“Integrated operations and crime-fighting initiatives are conducted daily, with priority given to areas experiencing higher levels of crime,” police spokesperson Colonel André Traut said at the time.
Between September 2024 and March 2025, more than 1,900 safety escorts were carried out for emergency crews and contractors.
Smith said the City has seen “a continued increase in requests for safety escorts”, which he linked directly to escalating crime and extortion threats.
“The attacks on staff and City contractors are relentless, and include very serious crimes — armed robbery, hijacking and sadly even murder,” he said.
In recent months, firefighters have also been robbed and assaulted while attending to blazes in Philippi and along the R300 near Stock Road. Some staff were booked off for trauma counselling after being held at gunpoint.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Service, previously described the strain on crews working in these conditions. “Our guys go into these areas daily, and it can be traumatic,” he said.
Smith said there was “no excuse” for targeting first responders. “These attacks put lives at risk, not just those of our firefighters, but the residents they serve,” he said.