A severe crisis is unfolding within KwaZulu-Natal’s emergency medical services, with allegations that more than half of the province’s ambulances are out of service due to bureaucratic delays tied to a national government contract.
The alarm was raised by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which cited information revealed through parliamentary questions. According to the party, only 240 of the province’s 480 ambulances are currently operational, representing a functionality rate of just 50%. The situation may be even more dire, as recent oversight visits by Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) suggest the operational figure may have dropped to as low as 37%.
The primary cause of the breakdown, according to the DA, is the inefficient implementation of the RT46 transversal tender. This national fleet management contract, centralized by National Treasury, was designed to streamline government vehicle services. However, MPLs report that the system is crippled by bureaucratic red tape, causing significant delays in essential maintenance and repairs for emergency vehicles.
The impact of the failing fleet extends beyond healthcare. The South African Police Service (SAPS) crime-fighting vehicles are also reportedly affected by the same contract inefficiencies.
A further layer to the crisis involves local economic stakeholders. Black-owned workshops in KwaZulu-Natal with the required BBBEE level one compliance claim they have been sidelined from the maintenance process. This has allegedly forced some of these businesses to shut down, exacerbating the repair backlog as capable local service providers are not utilized.
In response to the critical shortage, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has entered into a partnership with private ambulance services to ensure emergency coverage continues. The national Department of Health has not yet formally responded to the latest allegations.
The future of the fleet management system is also under scrutiny. The DA expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to ensure a smooth transition, noting that the RT46 tender for 2026 closed on August 11th amidst the ongoing crisis.
The human cost of the ambulance shortage is significant, with reports of tragedies occurring after emergency calls went unanswered due to vehicles sitting idle in depots awaiting simple repairs.
