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IOL News
30-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane demands investigation into corruption claims
Nomagugu Simelane, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, faces allegations of corruption and calls for an investigation from Premier Thami Ntuli and the provincial legislature. Image: Screengrab The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, called for Premier Thami Ntuli to investigate the allegations of corruption levelled against her. In addition, Simelane called for Members of the Provincial Legislature, particularly those from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), to write to Ntuli, the Auditor-General of South Africa, and the provincial Treasury to investigate her. Allegations were levelled against Simelane, stating that she used her position of power as the previous chairperson of the Agriculture and Rural Development Portfolio Committee to secure funding for a family company in Ithala and within the government. Simelane made the remarks at the 2025/26 financial year budget debate and vote at the provincial legislature on Tuesday. The total health budget is R56.2 billion. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In her speech, Simelane spoke of upgrades to clinics, improvements to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and interventions made to enhance service delivery within the Health Department. Members of the MKP made scathing remarks at Simelane during the debate. Judith Gasa, MPL of the MKP, spoke of the allegations that she heard in the news that Simelane was seen at the airport with a bag full of money. Gasa was asked to withdraw her statement because it was fake news, and she was also informed that MPLs should not come to the legislature to make such accusations. Gasa was also concerned about contracts and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) which she labelled as politically protected plundering. 'The MEC wants us to believe that digitising the health system would improve efficiency, yet she cannot even digitise honesty in her office. Before we digitise health records, can we first digitise a list of MEC members' families who have benefited from the health tenders?' Gasa said. She added that MPLs were called to vote upon the health budget at a time when Simelane is facing allegations of 'using proximity to benefit her family of KwaZulu-Natal provincial government funds to the tune of millions'. 'How can the legislature entrust the MEC to safeguard this substantial budget allocation. We call for a full forensic audit of all PPP arrangements in the Department of Health and the immediate suspension of any official with political links to irregular procurements,' Gasa said. In response to Gasa, Simelane said she did not expect her (Gasa) to bring up fake news in the legislature. 'You expect an honourable member of her calibre to read to understand and follow. But I suppose this is what her party decided to send her to do. 'We also know that there are MKP members who are benefiting from the National School Nutrition Programme. The premier must also bring them to this House. So let us be scrutinised. All of us as members will be able to be investigated by the premier,' Simelane said. Dr Keeka, DA MPL, said he supported due process, not trial by media. 'In the event that hard evidence – which is credible, verifiable, and legally sound – emerges, we will not hesitate to act. Until then, we will not join the current claims and counter-claims and will only act on cold, hard facts,' he said. Simelane said she is writing a detailed report on the allegations levelled against her to Ntuli and the African National Congress. In previous reports, Ntuli said he has taken proactive measures by requesting comprehensive reports detailing all relevant facts, context, and any developments related to the allegations.
IOL News
30-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
KZN Health Department partners with private ambulance services to enhance emergency response
MEC of Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Nomagugu Simelane announced the department's plan to partner with private ambulance services when she tabled her budget on Tuesday. Image: FILE The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health is entering into a partnership with private ambulance services to ensure timely and quality access to emergency medical services. Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane made this announcement while presenting her budget in the provincial legislature yesterday. The budget tabled amounts to approximately R56.2 billion. Simelane revealed that, over the past six years, budget cuts have reduced her budget by nearly R14 billion, leaving the department unable to meet some of its critical needs, including the expansion of the ambulance fleet. "As a result, we are now looking into partnerships with private ambulances operating within the province," she stated. Simelane emphasised the need to confront the challenges that directly impact patients. One of the most urgent issues is the pressure on the department's emergency medical services, particularly concerning response times for the evacuation of the sick and injured, as well as inter-facility transfers. "KwaZulu-Natal's vast and difficult terrain, coupled with budget limitations, has meant that we have only been able to replace ageing ambulances and not expand our fleet as much as we would have liked," she explained. In response, the department has decided to establish a panel of licensed EMS service providers to support the current fleet and improve response times. This panel will be drawn from more than 300 licensed service providers currently operating within the province. "Let me be clear: our fleet will continue to focus on emergency evacuations from communities, accident scenes, and high-risk areas, while the private ambulances will assist with the critical function of transfers. This will help the department reduce turnaround times and ensure that patients receive the level of care they need when they need it," she added. Simelane mentioned that the EMS is allocated a budget of R81 million, from which they intend to procure 50 new ambulances and 10-35 seater transport buses. Part of the funds will also be used to pay private service providers for some EMS functions. Chairperson of the committee, Dr Imran Keeka, stated that the committee will be monitoring the issue of EMS closely. "The committee has prioritised emergency medical services through a focused intervention study and will continue to monitor this service rigorously." Sabelo Mthethwa of MK Party commented, "They failed to meet EMS targets because they do not have the infrastructure, and now, instead of solving those problems, you are inviting new problems. It is not going to work and is going to create a lot of issues for healthcare workers." "If you are going to use private ambulances for your inter-facility transfers, one thing you are forgetting is the distance between the two, and it is going to be very costly. This budgeting did not allow for that. The question is, last year they failed to pay service providers on time. How are you going to do this year without increasing the budget for EMS?" he asked. Ncamisile Nkwanyana of the IFP welcomed the budget, stating it would facilitate the appointment of doctors. She urged the government to address the shameful long waiting times in clinics and hospitals, where patients travel long distances only to face long queues. "This erodes their dignity; this humanitarian failure must be rectified without delay." Hlengiwe Mavimbela of the ANC remarked that services such as EMS are the backbone of community services. "The budget also includes strategic adjustments to support EMS and mental health services, which are particularly important in a province facing post-flood trauma, substance abuse, and youth mental health concerns." THE MERCURY
