The Eastern Cape Department of Health has continued its efforts to strengthen emergency medical services across the province with the handover of 24 additional ambulances by MEC for Health Ntandokazi Capa, at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.

The latest handover marks the third deployment of new ambulances since August 2026, bringing the total number of new emergency vehicles distributed across the province to 71. It builds on the handover of 21 ambulances in August and a further 26 in September, demonstrating continued progress in renewing and strengthening the provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) fleet.

The latest allocation will benefit all seven health districts, with Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo and Sarah Baartman each receiving four ambulances. Amathole, Buffalo City Metro, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi will each receive three. The ongoing rollout forms part of the Department’s programme to introduce 195 new ambulances between August 2026 and March 2027. Through this investment, the Department aims to improve emergency response capacity and strengthen the provision of critical pre-hospital care across the province.

Speaking at the handover, MEC Capa expressed her appreciation for the additional ambulances saying, “We are really excited as the department of the growing investment in our emergency medical services fleet. This ensures that we will be able to continue providing essential services that our people depend on, we are also promising that another batch of vehicles should be expected so that we continue to provide quality and responsive healthcare to the people of the province”. 

The continued addition of ambulances is particularly important in the Eastern Cape, where long travelling distances and geographically dispersed rural communities place considerable demands on emergency medical teams. A stronger fleet will help support the delivery of emergency services to communities, including those in remote areas where timely access to medical assistance is essential.

The successive handovers reflect the Department’s continued commitment to improving healthcare access and strengthening frontline services. By progressively introducing new emergency vehicles, the province is working towards a more responsive EMS system that can better support patients during medical emergencies.

With further deployments planned as part of the 195-ambulance programme, the Department continues to prioritise the strengthening of emergency medical services to ensure that communities across the Eastern Cape receive essential care when every minute counts.