To: All Media Institutions
Date: 12 February 2025

As part of its broader objective to improve response times and enhance overall service efficiency within the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the province, the Northern Cape Department of Health convened a critical one-day EMS retreat in Kimberley.
This high-level engagement brought together senior management from the Emergency Medical Services and District Health Services directorates to extensively deliberate on current service demands and develop actionable solutions. The session was led by the Health MEC, Mr. Maruping Lekwene, alongside the Acting Head of Department for Health, Mr. Mxolisi Mlatha.The comprehensive EMS service package includes ambulance services, communication centers, inter-facility transfers, medical response and rescue services, aero-medical services, planned patient transport, disaster management and training.Currently, the department operates with an average of 75 ambulances across the province daily. To alleviate existing pressures, particularly in rural areas, the department has received the first batch of 11 new ambulances from a total of 22 procured in the current financial year and 8 Patient Transporter Vehicles (PTVs).

By end of December 2024, the department had responded to 94,849 emergency calls, averaging 1,265 calls per ambulance over the same period. This figure excludes calls handled by private ambulance services and aeromedical services, which are activated as needed.
Additionally, the Department has resolved to introduce toll-free numbers for each district—(John Taolo Gaetsewe, Namakwa, ZF Mgcawu, Frances Baard, and Pixley Ka Seme) as part of the plan to decentralize the call centers of emergency services and bring them closer to communities. These toll-free numbers will be zero-rated, ensuring no cost to clients.
In the interim, members of the public are encouraged to use the following numbers for emergency medical services:
• 0800 001 218 (Frances Baard, Pixley Ka Seme, and John Taolo Gaetsewe Districts)
• 0800 001 217 (ZF Mgcawu and Namakwa Districts)
In relation to human resource management, the department is finalizing the recruitment of 100 additional qualified EMS personnel to strengthen the existing workforce of 693 EMS employees across the province.
During the 2024 academic year, the Northern Cape College of Emergency Medical Services successfully trained 30 students. This ongoing effort continues into 2025, with a new intake of 30 students, 20 of whom are from rural Northern Cape. These students will be trained to serve their communities upon successful completion of the programme.
The Northern Cape Department of Health remains committed to enhancing emergency medical services, ensuring communities receive timely and efficient medical assistance.
 
For enquiries, contact:
Mr. Lebogang Majaha 
Media Liaison Officer 
Northern Cape Department of Health 
Mobile: 0718836404