“People Are Dying”: How a Single Government Contract is Paralyzing KZN’s Ambulances and Police

“People Are Dying”: How a Single Government Contract is Paralyzing KZN’s Ambulances and Police

In KwaZulu-Natal, a crisis is unfolding where every second counts and every second vehicle is missing. A critical shortage of ambulances and police cars is crippling essential services, and lawmakers are pointing the finger at a single, sprawling government contract they describe as utterly “dysfunctional.”

The culprit, according to Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs), is the RT46 transversal tender. This massive National Treasury contract, designed to manage the government’s entire vehicle fleet from fuel cards to repairs was meant to save money and boost efficiency. Instead, it’s being blamed for bureaucratic gridlock that is costing lives and leaving communities vulnerable.

The Staggering Numbers: Half a Fleet, Zero Momentum

The consequences are not theoretical. During an oversight visit to the Department of Health Emergency Services, legislators discovered a dire reality. Out of a designated fleet of 480 ambulances for the province, only 240 were operational. That means half of the vehicles meant to respond to heart attacks, accidents, and emergencies are sitting idle, unusable.

The reason? Nightmarish delays under the RT46 system. What should be a simple repair a broken alternator, new brakes is now taking months to complete, trapped in a web of red tape and poor management. This logjam is leaving entire communities without timely emergency medical care, forcing the Health Department to take the drastic step of partnering with private ambulance services to fill the life-threatening gap.

The Ripple Effect: From Medical Emergencies to Crime Scenes

The dysfunction doesn’t stop at the hospital gates. Confidential reports from the South African Police Service (SAPS) in KZN reveal the same pattern is paralyzing their fleet. Hundreds of police vehicles are reportedly stuck in repair backlogs, unable to be deployed to respond to crimes, patrol neighborhoods, or pursue suspects.

This creates a perfect storm of insecurity: medical services can’t reach those in need, and police are hamstrung in their ability to protect them. The RT46 contract, intended to streamline operations, has instead become a single point of failure for the province’s two most critical emergency services.

A Call for Answers: Legislators Demand an Investigation

Faced with this systemic breakdown, politicians are demanding action. IFP MPL and Finance Committee member Lourens de Klerk has called for a formal investigation by the legislature into the tender.

“With our oversight on the EMS ambulance services, it was clear there were serious shortcomings, especially regarding the lack of ambulances and the delays in fixing them,” de Klerk stated. “It is important that we call for such an investigation to be conducted.”

The situation in KZN is a stark reminder that a failure in procurement and management isn’t just a financial or administrative problem. It’s a human one. When a vehicle is stuck in a repair shop, a person in a remote village might be left without help, a family might wait in vain for an ambulance, and a criminal might get away. The true cost of a “dysfunctional” contract is measured in lives, not just rand and cents.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com