Pietie Links an EMS official that died after he was stabbed in the neck while on duty
Attempt to collect a debt ends in stabbing incident near Kareedouw
A DISPUTE over money turned violent yesterday when a medic was murdered in Woodlands near Kareedouw in the Langkloof. The fatal stabbing of Eastern Cape Department of Health medic Pietie Links, 36, at about 10am has sent shockwaves through the province’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
A 26-year-old man was arrested just hours later. He is due to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
Police spokesman Sergeant Majola Nkohli said Links and ambulance driver Ricardo Jantjies had been dispatched to Woodlands and Clarkson for medical call-outs, when Links asked Jantjies to stop at the house of a man who owed him money.
“The ambulance stopped and a man who is believed to have owed him [Links] money attacked him. The attacker stabbed him once in the neck before running away,” Nkohli said.
“According to the driver of the ambulance, he [Links] did not provoke the man before he came out of nowhere and attacked him.”
Nkohli said Links was loaded into the ambulance in the panic and rushed to the BJ Vorster Hospital in Kareedouw where he later died. By 3pm, the 26-year-old suspect was arrested at a house near the murder scene.
“The knife believed to have killed Links was found in his possession,” Nkohli said
Meanwhile, Department of Health officials have condemned the killing. Health superintendent-general Dr Thobile Mbengashe described the attack as an act of cowardice.
“More effort is needed from communities and the public to support EMS and openly condemn these acts of violence,” Mbengashe said.
“It is sad indeed to have a senseless killing of a public servant on duty helping patients get access to critical medical care.”
EMS manager Dominic Francis confirmed Links was stabbed en route to a call-out.
The attack is the latest in a string of attacks on medics – at least 26 – around the province in the past 23 months.
However, this is the first time an official has died.
Other attacks have included vandalism, robbery and attempted murder.
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