Motsoaledi asks Treasury to investigate Buthelezi EMS

Spotlight published two articles this week on alleged overcharging and tender irregularities involving Buthelezi EMS and the health department in the North West as part of our Health4Sale series of investigative articles. See Part 1 here, and Part 2here.

Next week we will be turning the spotlight on Buthelezi EMS in the Free State.

Motsoaledi stressed that the Treasury investigation is specifically into the procurement processes and suspected corruption. He also confirmed that the investigation has already started.

In terms of medical need, Motsoaledi said that there is no debate at all and that Buthelezi EMS and Mediosa are not adding value and that they are in fact causing more problems. He also said that it is not national policy to use private service providers for emergency medical services.

“On my side as health there is nothing to investigate in terms of whether it is serving the health needs etc,” he said.

“It is very clear, as clear as daylight, that we do not need this type of service.”

Motsoaledi told Spotlight that he is in daily contact with Free State MEC for Health Butana Komphela about the situation. “I told him it is wrong for them to privatise ambulance services. They must run them on their own.

“The plan from my side is that Treasury after this investigation must make a clear ruling that the procurement of private ambulance services should not happen,” he said.

Motsoaledi indicated that a Section 100 intervention whereby the Provincial Departments of Health in Free State and North West would be placed under national administration was not currently being considered. He explained that under Section 100 the political leaders in the province stays in place and that national assumes responsibility without authority. He referred to his experience when the Limpopo Department of Health was under Section 100 administration. In that case four provincial heads of department that various National Ministers believed should be removed were not removed because only the premier of the province had the authority to remove them.

“In Limpopo we were only able to stabilise the finances because of Treasury, but the human resources we could not touch because that authority does not lie with us,” he said.

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