Forty-one City of Johannesburg ambulances worth about R41 million have sat idle for six years, while the city waits for Gauteng to decide whether it can put the vehicles back on the road to provide emergency medical services to residents.
The ambulances were bought by the city’s Emergency Management Services in 2019 at about R1 million each, but their use was disrupted when Gauteng began taking over municipal ambulance services.
The province has now confirmed that the city’s latest application for an operating licence, covering six stations, is under consideration.
Gauteng government spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the application was submitted in July and a final decision rests with the Gauteng Health head of department.
He said the province would also engage the city on the future of the 41 ambulances, including the possibility of absorbing them into the provincial emergency medical services system.
