Local News
FS Health Department does not owe Mediosa - MEC─── KATLEHO MORAPELA 17:09 Wed, 18 Apr 2018
Butana Komphela/Photo: Katleho Morapela
The Free State Health MEC, Butana Komphela, says his department does not owe a Gupta-linked company, Mediosa, a cent and is in the process of ending its deal with Buthelezi Private Ambulance Services, despite contrary belief.
| Komphela refutes allegations that the department has been pumping millions into these private ambulance service providers and that they have also given the controversial Buthelezi Ambulances a long-term contract as the opposition in the Legislatures claims. After the tabling of his 2018/19 budget vote, DA MPL Mariette Pittaway told the House that Komphela has failed to reply to written questions about money being spent on the Buthelezi Private Ambulance Services and why the department continues to renew their contract, despite complaints of inadequate service. In a one-on-one interview with OFM News, Komphela, however, had the following to say. "Mediosa can go to hell, we don't owe them anything. We told opposition parties that we don't have enough ambulances and we are going to continue making use of Buthelezi up until the end of the next financial year. Each ambulance has to be well equipped and have ten nurses working in one ambulance, and therefore that's a lot of money. Next year we will be done with Buthelezi, that is why we are renewing their contract on a month-to-month basis, we are in the process of getting rid of Buthelezi". Pittaway earlier argued that the department recorded irregular expenditure of more than R3.4 billion in the 2016/17 fiscal year alone. This, coupled with the R620 million that the department has allegedly spent on the Buthelezi Ambulance Services since 2013. OFM News |
