According to the MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu, the department will continue to make use of the Buthelezi Ambulances for inter-facility transfers as the department still battles to meets all health demands with just state ambulances. She confirms to OFM News the department is still in dire need of more ambulances, despite the 60 that were launched in Caleb Motshabi earlier today (on Wednesday). The financial woes of the department have recently been highlighted by members of the National Council of Provinces during their oversight visit when they raised concerns over the department’s costs on this service provider, increasing accruals, high litigation cases, and infrastructure backlogs at its major facilities, among other things. Tsiu told OFM News they are purchasing their own ambulances as part of cost-cutting measures and only working with Buthelezi on a month-to-month basis.

She says although they are still working with the Buthelezi Ambulances, she can assure the public that all service providers who have made a bid will be considered.

The initial contract with the Buthelezi Ambulances came under question when opposition parties demanded answers as to why the service provider was allegedly paid over R6.1 million per month while there are reports of inadequate resources and poor service delivery.

OFM News