Statement by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, NOMANTU NKOMO-RALEHOKO,
As we gather here today, we stand at the threshold of the festive season, a time that brings heightened demands on our healthcare system. This season is particularly challenging, as we often witness an increase in medical emergencies due to road accidents and festive gatherings among other factors.
It is our duty to ensure that our health services are ready to meet these challenges and safeguard the wellbeing of our communities. We want to use this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to improving emergency medical services throughout Gauteng Province.
Our data analysis has shown that during the festive period, the number of emergency calls surge by 25 – 40%. Our festive season plan for the period 1 December 2025 – 12 January 2026 outlines a proactive, evidence-driven strategy to safeguard residents, visitors and EMS personnel during the province’s highest-risk operational period.
We recognise the key risk areas including road traffic collisions, mass gatherings and increased incidents of violence and trauma. We are prepared to address these challenges head-on.
Readiness of health facilities and Medical Supplies Depot
I want to assure the residents of Gauteng that our hospitals and clinics across all five districts health services are fully prepared for the busy weeks ahead. We have taken proactive measures to ensure adequate resource allocation to serve our residents effectively during this critical time when the demand for healthcare intensifies.
All our 24-hour Community Health Centres will continue operating as per norm throughout the festive season. This will ensure that our communities always have access to the much-needed essential medical care.
We will be actively monitoring staffing levels and pressure points, ensuring that all our health facilities are adequately capacitated to effectively handle any emergencies. I strongly encourage all residents, particularly those receiving treatment, to keep their appointments and prioritise their care during this busy season, as maintaining regular treatment is essential for their wellbeing.
Our Medical Supplies Depot (MSD) will ensure that life-saving and essential medicines are available to all health care facilities and as such has committed to closely monitor stock levels at all facilities and respond swiftly to any emerging needs.
EMS preparedness and resource allocation
The Gauteng Emergency Medical Services has been working tirelessly to improve our response time to emergencies. This year, we have established partnerships with registered and licensed EMS Non-Profit Organisations to boost our capacity to meet the demands and maintain effective service delivery during this period.
This initiative opens opportunities for working class volunteers to lend their skills and serve our communities, particularly those registered EMS professionals wishing to make their expertise available over the holiday period.
Our emergency fleet has been thoroughly maintained and is operationally ready. We have deployed 520 emergency ambulances and a range of vehicles, including ICU units, response vehicles, planned patient transport, rescue services and disaster buses to respond effectively to emergencies.
In emergency cases, every second counts and our dedicated team of 1028 thousand staff members per shift are ready to respond to calls in an effort to save lives. Our Provincial Health Operations Centre is also well equipped to monitor the volume of calls, track the emergency response times, handle hospital diverts, track emergency vehicle movements and monitor daily operational strength across the five districts in Gauteng.
Working together with the SAPS Provincial Joint Operations Centre and the Provincial Health Operational Centre, we will ensure comprehensive coordination in our operations, including monitoring Red Zones and managing emergency vehicle status and hospital transfers.
This partnership allows for the swift dispatch of emergency vehicles, guaranteeing our preparedness to respond to incidents such as paramedic attacks and service delivery protests. We will work with local SAPS stations, Community Policing Forums, Ward Councillors and community leaders to improve our response
capabilities.
Our emergency response teams often encounter traumatic experiences while performing their duties and one of the most concerning challenges they face is the threat of attacks. These brave individuals put their lives on the line to provide care and assistance to those in need, yet they sometimes become targets themselves.
As a community, we must stand together to protect our health workers, particularly our paramedics and emergency responders. We recognise the need to provide psychosocial support to these dedicated servants.
Our Employee Health and Wellness Practitioners, along with chaplains, will be on standby to provide support through our Employee Assistance Programme. We are also collaborating with the South African Chaplaincy Association to support our workforce.
Forensic Pathology Service
We understand that this period often brings an increase in incidents that may require pathology services and we are ready to respond timely. Our comprehensive plan will ensure continuous provision of pathology services whenever the need arises.
All 11 Forensic Pathology Service offices across Gauteng will remain open, equipped with functional backup generators to guarantee uninterrupted service delivery, even in the event of power disruptions.
All our facilities have sufficient medical supplies and consumables to carry out their duties throughout this festive season. We have a Central Store ready to provide additional medical stock, ensuring that we have enough resources at our disposal. Should the need arise, further medical stock and equipment can also be sourced from other FPS facilities across Gauteng.
A total of 48 pathologists and 102 forensic officers will be on standby throughout the festive season. They are ready and well prepared to assist with any cases that may occur.
We have deployed 68 response vehicles, including newly procured multi-body-carrier vehicles, positioned to handle fatalities promptly. We will closely monitor all admitted cases on an hourly basis at the provincial level. This will help us assess space availability and mitigate any possible backlog or delays in conducting postmortems.
In the unfortunate event of mass fatalities, our Diepkloof and Ga-Rankuwa facilities are designated disaster centers, fully prepared to manage such emergencies. Our normal autopsy services will also continue without interruptions.
We have also established provisions for using Push-to-Talk hand radios, enabling seamless communication among multiple stakeholders, including SAPS and EMS, to coordinate our efforts effectively.
Should a major incident or disaster involving large numbers of fatalities occur, our FPS Disaster Management Committee will be activated to coordinate response activities and support other facilities as needed.
Clinical Forensic Medicine Service
We acknowledge that this time of year often sees a troubling rise in cases of violence, including gender-based violence, domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Our Clinical Forensic Medical Services (CFMS) are at the forefront of addressing these critical issues.
As a result, 18 CFMS centers will operate 24 hours a day to ensure that we are prepared to support survivors and respond to these urgent needs. Other centres such as Daveyton, Dr. Yusuf Dadoo, Tsakane, Bekkersdal, Discoverers in Florida and Lenasia South, will be operating for 10 – 12 hours each day. Additionally, Diepsloot, Zamokuhle in Zola and Stratford in Orange Farm will be available for eight
hours daily. For cases that arise in these areas, we will ensure a seamless referral to nearby facilities that provide 24-hour services.
while we remain committed to providing essential services, it is our wish that no lives can be lost this festive season. I therefore urge the public to abide by the rules of the road to help minimise the loss of life on our roads. Those who will be intoxicated should refrain from altercations that may result in fatalities.
In line with the national health awareness calendar, December is recognised as Injury Prevention Month. As we enjoy this festive season, let us all do our part in promoting safety. Let us be vigilant and follow safety guidelines to reduce the number of injuries and ensure a healthier, safer environment for everyone.
I urge our communities to support and protect all health workers, particularly our paramedics, who diligently serve our citizens during this critical time, said MEC.