Frontline staff from the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness are increasingly anxious about their safety and travelling into communities to provide essential services, after 20 hijackings involving government vehicles were reported over the past two financial years, reports the Cape Argus.
Internal departmental records show that 12 hijackings were reported during the 2025/26 financial year, while another eight had been recorded during 2026/27 by 27 August.
Khayelitsha was among the areas most affected, with five hijackings reported there in 2025/26 and three during the current financial year.
The incidents come amid wider concern over attacks on frontline government workers, including social workers, child protection officials and healthcare employees.
Emergency Medical Services has introduced several measures to protect crews and patients, including a safety desk, vehicle and crew tracking systems, emergency alerts and co-operation with SAPS and local law enforcement.
Where an area or scene is considered unsafe, crews may be required to wait at a secure rendezvous point or for a police or law enforcement escort before entering.
Anti-hijacking awareness campaigns have also been conducted across the province, with further campaigns planned during the 2026/27 financial year.
The department said it did not have a consolidated figure showing how many employees had resigned, requested transfers or taken extended leave specifically because of crime and safety concerns, but its figures follow similar concerns raised by the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD).
DSD confirmed 22 hijacking and attempted-hijackings during the current financial year. The figures exclude assaults and other attacks.
Three incidents were recorded in Khayelitsha within one week. In one case, a policy developer attached to the Child Protection programme was shot at during a monitoring visit to an NPO. She escaped and reached safety at a nearby petrol station.
In separate incidents, a Facilities Management employee was hijacked at gunpoint in his driveway after completing a shift, while a social worker was hijacked during a home visit.
DSD spokesperson Esther Lewis said the attacks had taken a serious toll on employees. Some had suffered post-traumatic stress or physical injuries, while child and youth care workers had required extended leave.
At least one employee had resigned after a hijacking and three had requested transfers.
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