20 new ambulances to service Joburg
Roodepoort ambulances might be replaced following risk assessments, Mpati said.
Twenty new ambulances for the Johannesburg metropolitan area were introduced in Florida Park yesterday (Thursday 3 July). The event was held at the Roodepoort Fire Station in Golf Club Terrace.
The press was invited to preview the new ambulances, which will replace the older ones that have exceeded their time on the roads.
“We did not do this because of negative media attention – we make the news regardless of what happens,” City of Johannesburg spokesperson Virgil James said.
After being introduced by James, the MMC for Public Safety Sello Lemao addressed the journalists.
“These ambulances were not purchased in response to recent bad press about the state of our emergency vehicles,” Lemao repeatedly stated.
“We offer a 24-hour a day, 365-days per year service and we should always be on people’s lips because they should always see us.
“When they do not see us on scene, that is a problem.”
Lemao referred to previous cases where Joburg EMS did not respond to emergencies or arrived late at scenes.
In the past two weeks, the City of Johannesburg also spent approximately R20 million on two new fire engines and three new specialised vehicles for emergenciess. This, Lemao and James explained, was all part of a concerted effort to improve the services and efficiency of emergency services city-wide.
“When people complain, we must take the punches and when good things happen, we also must enjoy the credit.
“Our responsibility as a City is to ensure that we save people and their property.
“Our state-of-the-art equipment coupled with effective personnel will ensure that we become more effective as emergency services providers,” said Lemao.
Approximately R10 million was spent on the ambulances alone and the price of the other equipment remains unconfirmed.
Focus is on fire
Both James and Lemao said the City’s focus is on fire safety this winter.
“We have launched a winter safety campaign and appeal to residents to take extra care this season, particularly regarding shack fires,” said Lemao.
“We want to assure that we are here to protect and serve and will not compromise on lives.
“Our emergency number, 10177, is still there for the public to use.”
Why the new ambulances?
“You only know that a spade is being used when it gets dirty,” said district medical officer Kenny Letlala. He explained that the older ambulances have signs of ‘dirt’, and that they have been used for quite some time. New ambulances will make the work that much easier, he said. Station Director Joe Matlhubelo said the City has a replacement plan in that ambulances that have exceeded 200 000 kilometres, which is considered to be the depreciation barrier, should be replaced. The estimated value of a replacement ambulance is R500 000, he said, without considering the equipment inside. This means that R10 million was spent on the 20 new ambulances.
New ambulances to which areas?
Before the new ambulances will be put into service, an assessment will be done to determine the high-risk areas, said fleet manager Tshepo Mpati. The assessment along with the depreciation barrier of ambulances will determine where the ambulances will go. Mpati could not confirm whether Roodepoort will be receiving some of the ambulances, and said there should be four ambulances per fire station.
Currently Roodepoort has eight ambulances to service its community, he told the record.
