Health workers help to steal ambulances

Driver who gave thief his uniform loses CCMA appeal

Daily Dispatch

@Dispatch_DD

THEFTS of ambulances in the Eastern Cape is common and in some cases the culprits are health employees who collude with criminals to convert the emergency vehicles into taxis.

The issue came to light last week when the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) upheld the dismissal of a former health department ambulance driver for helping thieves to steal an ambulance.

The ambulance driver, Jacob Segola, had been convicted of complicity in the theft of an ambulance, which was later converted into a taxi.

He was subsequently dismissed but claimed his conviction was based on a confession forced from him under police torture and therefore his dismissal was unfair.

CCMA commissioner Malusi Mbuli said the thefts of ambulances was prevalent in the province, particularly in Queenstown, Elliot and Dordrecht areas.

Mbuli said Segola had lied and that his action deprived vulnerable communities of their right to healthcare.

“These people relied on the state ambulances to be transported to the nearest healthcare centres.”

The case arose in March 2009 when the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) lost an ambulance parked at Sterkspruit Hospital.

Segola had allegedly assisted the person who stole the ambulance.

The CCMA found that he gave the thief his work uniform so that security would believe he was an ambulance driver.

Segola, in his statement to the CCMA, said he heard the news of the stolen ambulance but at the time was off-duty.

He told the commission he was arrested and tortured and assaulted by police and eventually pleaded guilty.

“He also confirmed that the plea of guilty at the magistrate’s court was signed by him after it was read and discussed with him by his attorney,” said Mbuli.

After his arrest he was found guilty and fined R10 000 which he paid in court.

At the departmental disciplinary hearings he was found guilty and dismissed, and took the matter to the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council prior to the CCMA.

“In concluding whether the applicant’s dismissal was fair or not I have considered the negative effect that this transgression has at the workplace and the broader community,” Mbuli said.

He found the dismissal was “procedurally and substantively fair”, considering the consequences of the action of the applicant in his position as an emergency medical rescuer, with the responsibilities entrusted to him.

Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo confirmed there was a problem with ambulances being stolen in the province.

Other areas that had been hit include Stutterheim, Mthatha and Cathcart.

“In one instance,” said Kupelo, “our ambulance was found stripped in Mqanduli while another was taken in Mthatha while the driver and his assistants were taking a patient inside the hospital. They left the key in the ignition.” —