We need healthcare services, not scooter project drama

Controversy has stalked the ambulance scooters project since inception. The multimillion-rand initiative was announced in June with grandeur by health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and health MEC Sindiswa Gomba in East London. Both political heads were seen taking rides on the scooters, much to the delight of our rural communities, as they felt finally some semblance of help was coming their way.

This is understandable because for people who have seen their relatives die because of lack of transport to take them to health facilities, any solution is welcome in spite of glaring weaknesses.

The project was expected to contribute to employment creation and jobs preservation as the R10m contract was awarded to a King William’s Town company. However, the wheels were quick to come off the muchvaunted project. A massive public uproar resulted in the department backtracking.

In a written response to a parliamentary question in July, Mkhize admitted the scooters did not meet the basic criteria for safe patient transportation. Further, the scooters would be used mainly for widening access to primary health care and delivering chronic medicine to the most remote areas.

The minister’s U-turn led to more speculation and questions. It soon emerged that the national department was not consulted on the specifications of the scooters when the procurement was done. The drama does not end there. On Saturday we reported that the Special Investigative Unit had interdicted the provincial department from forging ahead with the project on Friday. The SIU alleges the contract was “marred by irregularities and irrationality”, and awarded “in an unusual and unexplained haste”.

The Friday hearing did not last more than 20 minutes as it was not opposed by the respondents, who told the media the interdict was not necessary as the project was already halted pending investigations. The respondents claimed they were not subpoenaed and only got to know about the Friday tribunal through the media.

This is the kind of drama we can ill afford in the Eastern Cape at a time when we are battling the coronavirus that has infected more than 88,000 people.

Many variables are not adding up on this matter. Sadly, as the drama unfolds, it is the poor who bear the brunt. We hope the SIU will speed up its investigation so the matter reaches its finality urgently.

People of our province need proper healthcare services and not drama over scooters.

Many variables are not adding up on this matter. Sadly, it is the poor who bear the brunt