The Sundays River Valley is currently facing a catastrophic collapse of emergency medical services, with no operational emergency medical vehicles available to serve a population of nearly 70,000 residents.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will escalate the matter in the Provincial Legislature and request that the MEC for Health intervene immediately.
This is not an isolated incident but a recurring crisis. For months, mechanical failures and a lack of maintenance have decimated the community’s fleet, leaving no vehicle to serve an area of more than 5,800 square kilometres.
On 7 January 2026, the first of the emergency medical vehicles went in for repairs and since then five more followed. The ongoing shortage has forced residents to rely on private transport in medical emergencies.
It is unacceptable that in an area known for its vital citrus production and tourism, a basic human right like emergency healthcare is non-existent. Despite repeated pleas to provincial authorities, no permanent solution has been implemented to address the fleet’s reliability.
I have brought the crisis to the attention of DA Eastern Cape Health Shadow MEC Jane Cowley MPL, asking her to take the matter up in the Provincial Legislature.
The Sundays River Valley community demands the immediate deployment of at least three fully equipped, temporary ambulances to the area, and a transparent timeline for the permanent repair or replacement of the broken fleet.
The Constitution guarantees the right to access healthcare services, including emergency treatment. Failing to meet this duty places the provincial government in breach of its legal obligations. Rural communities deserve the same level of care as those living near major hospitals in larger towns.
Residents of Sundays River Valley cannot afford to wait months for help. Ensuring timely emergency medical care is a constitutional obligation.
The DA will fight for the basic human right of the people of the Sundays River Valley to receive emergency healthcare and live a safe, healthy and meaningful life of dignity.