KwaZulu-Natal Transport & Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma has said he will not retract his remarks or apologise for insulting private paramedics, reports News24.
Duma's comments related to a recent Isipingo crash that claimed 11 lives, with the MEC saying – at a media briefing – that some ambulance services, including ALS Paramedics Medical Services – were insensitive and refused to help patients without medical aid.
According to the department’s spokesperson, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, Duma stood by his words and would not apologise.
In a legal letter, ALS has rejected the MEC’s claims, describing them as “false, vexatious and defamatory”. The private paramedic company said its crews had helped several patients at the scene and transported two uninsured victims to a public hospital, disputing allegations that they discriminated against patients based on their medical aid status.
ALS also took issue with Duma’s claims that state emergency services were stronger, raising concerns about the condition and compliance of some public ambulances.
ALS demanded Duma issue a full public retraction and apology across all media platforms where his statements were broadcast, given him until last Monday to comply, and warning that failure to do so would result in legal action.
However, on Thursday, Sibiya dismissed the demands, describing the legal letter as “laughable”, and saying Duma would not back down, or be retracting any statement.
DA spokesperson Dr Imran Keeka said Duma’s claims were “reckless”, and contradicted by legal correspondence; they also failed to reflect the realities of emergency medical services in the province, where response times are often severely delayed, especially in rural areas.
Keeka said private providers frequently step in to transport uninsured patients to public hospitals at no cost and should be supported, rather than vilified.
Additionally, he raised concerns about state ambulances allegedly operating with expired licence discs.
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