This, after they have not been paid for the past two months. One of the employees, Taunyana Seekoei, told OFM News they have officially stopped providing services as they have not been paid, despite the owners’ endless promises. He says the owner of the ambulances, who is commonly known as Mr Thapelo Buthelezi, has engaged them on the matter earlier this month citing technical error and promising to make payments as soon as possible. Seekoei says they are now wondering as to whether they will get paid at the end of this month….

He adds that they have received threats that whoever embarks on a strike will be called for a disciplinary hearing.

This service provider drew controversy after it came to light that large sums of provinces’ health budgets are being pumped into private ambulance services whilst other health necessities are not attended to. 

It is alleged that the Free State Health Department spends millions on the Buthelezi Private Ambulance Services while communities continue to bear the brunt of poor service delivery. This coupled with several complaints regarding inadequate services and the lack of qualified operators by the service provider.

Opposition parties have lambasted the department for allegedly spending more than R600 million of taxpayers’ money on this service provider since 2013.

When asked about these allegations, the Free State Health MEC, Montsheng Tsiu, a month ago told OFM News the department battles to meet all health demands in the province with just its own fleet and hence they are still outsourcing the Buthelezi ambulance services. She, however, said the outsourcing of private ambulances will slowly be phased out and that they are now only on a month-to-month contract with Buthelezi Private Ambulance Services.

Following the collapse of health services and the Mediosa scandal in the North West, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said investigations are underway regarding the use of private ambulances and seek to know how these services are procured in the different provinces.

Buthelezi EMS management is yet to respond to OFM News’ enquiries.

OFM News