More than 50 emergency care graduates entered frontline service this week, strengthening response capacity and emergency medical care across the Western Cape province.
More than 50 new emergency care professionals and rescue technicians have graduated from the Western Cape Government’s College of Emergency Care, reinforcing frontline response systems and strengthening emergency medical services across the province.
The Class of 2025 includes 43 graduates who completed the Higher Certificate in Emergency Care, alongside nine rescue technicians who received specialised training to operate in complex and high-risk rescue environments. Their qualification marks an important step in expanding South Africa’s emergency response capacity while improving outcomes for patients in critical situations.
Nationally, about 95% of the public emergency medical services workforce is trained at emergency care colleges across the country. These graduates represent the next generation of first responders who will support communities across the Western Cape and contribute to strengthening healthcare resilience nationwide.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger congratulated the graduates and reflected on the responsibility they now carry. She said emergency care requires courage, quick decision-making and a strong commitment to serving others in moments when lives are at risk.
The College of Emergency Care continues to play a leading role in emergency care education in South Africa. With roots dating back to the 1980s, the institution became the first provincial college in 2022 accredited to offer the NQF Level 5 Higher Certificate for Emergency Care Assistants, followed in 2024 by the three-year Diploma in Emergency Medical Care.
Principal Dr Kuben Moodley said the graduation marks the beginning of a demanding but meaningful career path, noting that emergency care professionals often meet patients in their most vulnerable moments and must respond with both clinical skill and compassion.
