This service level agreement between the department and Buthelezi Ambulances has since come to an end.

It, however, emerged that the department started a tender process for another contract again. 

Freedom Front Plus’ Wouter Wessels said the contract between the cash-strapped department and Buthelezi Ambulances came under the loop during a sitting of the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts in the Legislature. 

Meanwhile, the department said during the sitting the procurement of a tender for private ambulance services is under discussion. In an interview with OFM News, Health MEC Butana Komphela said the department is in the process of renewing their contract with Buthelezi Ambulances on a month-to-month basis. 

This is despite the controversy surrounding irregular expenditures by the department on the contracting of this private ambulance service and allegations that the service provider is not adequately resourced to render the service. 

Komphela said the department cannot shut down the Buthelezi Services as the department is at this stage unable to buy its own ambulances. He says they will instead “slowly buy their own government ambulances and thereafter end their contract with the service provider”.

OFM News/Nomaqhawe Mtebele and Katleho Morapela