By Bongani Tshabalala
BETHLEHEM-Thabo Mofutsanyana Emergency Medical Services (EMS) worker was found dead next to his Subaru Forester EMS response vehicle on 15 April 2021. The incident took place along the R76 Lindley Road near Bethlehem, where the deceased was found with five gunshot wounds behind his head, with the keys still in the ignition and the headlights on.
The official was described as one of the hardworking and responsive EMS officials who prioritised the interests of patients and the community.
“We are deeply saddened by this death and more especially by the brutal nature of how it was done. We are thankful to those who assisted to get his mortal remains to be attended to, to restore his dignity. We ask for anyone with knowledge of what happened in this shocking incident to report this to the police so that they can affect an arrest,” Tsiu said.
Tsiu further stated that the district manager of Health in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district has been called into assist the family and colleagues of the deceased with professional psychological services.
Colonel Thandi Mbambo says police received a complaint on Thursday afternoon of a body that was lying next to the road.
On arrival at the scene, police found a white Subaru Forester EMS response vehicle parked on the side of the. The deceased, who was not in his EMS uniform but pyjamas, was found on the ground behind the vehicle with multiple gunshots to the back of his head.
The motive for the murder is unknown, and no arrests have been made yet. The Free State police are investigating a case of murder.
