According to the provincial health department, this is an effort to increase the much-needed emergency vehicles in the province.

This province, together with others such as the Free State, have over the years drawn much controversy over the use of private ambulances and contracts with the Buthelezi EMS. It is alleged that these two provinces have been pumping millions into this private service provider with the minimum to show for it. The ambulances were reportedly failing to meet basic health standards, lacking basic medical equipment with under-qualified personnel.

The service that was contracted for inter-hospital transfers allegedly provided limited support and expertise during transportation and was operating more as a taxi operator as opposed to being an ambulance. Opposition parties in both the province’s legislatures have for years said the use of the service provider was a waste of taxpayers’ money, doing nothing for the provinces but putting people’s lives at risk, and called for investigations into it.

Web: Following growing concerns over this service provider and irregular expenditure, the former Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi instructed Treasury to investigate the procurement of the Buthelezi EMS service in the two provinces.

The provinces, nonetheless, cited lack of ambulances and EMS personnel as a reason to not terminate the service. The Free State thereafter engaged on a month-to-month contract with the service provider stating that they would do so until they manage to increase their own ambulances and hire more staff.

The contracts of the two provinces with the Buthelezi EMS is currently under the investigation of the Special Investigating Unit after President Cyril Ramaphosa, a few months ago, gave them the green light to start probing.

The departmental spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, says the display and launch of new ambulances this afternoon will be followed by the final leg of the NHI roadshow in the province.

OFM News