When every second counts: New emergency care professionals graduate in the Western Cape
More than 50 new emergency care professionals and rescue technicians graduated today from the Western Cape Government’s College of Emergency Care, marking an important milestone for emergency medical services in the province and strengthening frontline response capacity in South Africa.
The Class of 2025 includes 43 graduates who completed the Higher Certificate in Emergency Care and 9 rescue technicians who have undertaken specialised training to strengthen their ability to respond in complex rescue environments.
Nationally, about 95% of public emergency medical service workforce are trained at emergency care colleges across the country. As such, these graduates represent the next generation of first responders who will help safeguard high quality emergency care for communities across the Western Cape and South Africa.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger congratulated the graduates and reflected on the calling they are entering. “Emergency care is not simply a job. It is a calling. It requires courage, quick thinking and a deep commitment to serving others. These graduates are the people who will arrive when seconds matter most and lives are on the line.”
The College of Emergency Care has a proud history dating back to the 1980s and continues to lead the way in emergency care education in South Africa. In 2022, it became the first provincial college in the country to be accredited to offer an NQF Level 5 Higher Certificate, Emergency Care Assistant, and in 2024, the three-year Diploma in Emergency Medical Care, setting a new benchmark for excellence in training.
The Principal of the College of Emergency Care, Dr Kuben Moodley, said the graduation marks the beginning of a demanding but deeply rewarding journey. “Our graduates are stepping into a profession defined by courage and resilience. Emergency care professionals are often there for people in their most vulnerable moments, and the training they receive here prepares them to respond with both clinical excellence and humanity.”
As these graduates begin their careers, they join a proud tradition of emergency care professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others in moments of crisis.
Media Queries:
Robyn Thomson
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness