The Eastern Cape is set for a major boost to its emergency medical services, with more than 200 ambulances scheduled to be delivered by March 2027 as the provincial government moves to address an ageing and unreliable fleet.
The Department of Health has already begun receiving new vehicles through Government Fleet Management Services (GFMS) and the Eastern Cape Department of Transport.
The rollout comes amid ongoing challenges caused by ambulance breakdowns, lengthy repair periods and the province’s vast rural landscape, which can make it difficult to maintain reliable emergency services.
Fourteen new ambulances were delivered to the Sarah Baartman District last week, alongside seven patient transport vehicles and nine response vehicles.
The next phase will see 20 ambulances delivered on 21 August, followed by 26 on 4 September.
The replacement programme will then continue with 35 ambulances by the end of October, 74 in February 2027 and a further 40 in March 2027.
The final 40 ambulances will be retained by GFMS to allow for short-term deployment to the Health Department when vehicles are taken off the road for repairs.
The provincial government says the partnership with Transport will also allow the Health Department to temporarily access other available vehicles when urgent replacements are needed.
Private ambulance service providers will continue to supplement the government fleet where necessary.
The government says the programme is aimed at improving the reliability of emergency medical services and ensuring that residents, particularly those in rural communities, are able to access emergency care when they need it.
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