Ambulance not in used for five years

MBOMBELA – A state ambulance purchased by the Department of Public Works Roads and Transport in Pilgrim’s Rest has not been used for more than five years, leaving employees hired for its course, in distress.

Reliable sources state that the ambulance had travelled less than 10 000 km since it was purchased in 2005 and was left parked in the department’s premises after allegations that the department failed to afford its costs.

“The department phased out the ambulance services and employees which were hired for the ambulance services were left without work. Those employees had been utilized as Acting Foremen’s although they had not been compensated for their current positions,” sources said.

“This is sad as the new job comes with lots of responsibilities of which we are not paid for. Other employees even mock us left and right about the jobs positions that we are not paid for. We had never received any acting allowances,” they said.

This newspaper also learned that the acting foremans had recently laid a complaint to the department and had asked the intervention of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu). They demand the department to hire them fully in their current positions because they claim to have acquired more skills while acting for the five years.

Rumours also had it that department plans to advertise the posts.

“They need the posts and had gained all the experience in all the years of their acting,” another source added.

Study from the General Public Service Sectoral Bargaining Council resolution Number 01 of 2002 on payments of an acting allowance provides a framework for the compensation of an employee acting in a higher post states that an employee appointed in writing to act in a higher post, by a person who is duly authorised, shall be paid an acting allowance provided that: the post is vacant, funded and the period of appointment is uninterrupted and longer than six weeks.

The policy further states that the employee must accept the acting appointment in writing and the acting allowance will be calculated on the basis of the difference between the current salary notch of the employee and the commencing notch of the higher post.

The provincial Department of Public Works and Transport confirmed that the ambulance in question was never used since 2005 because “The structure could no longer accommodate the function of the Emergency Medical

Services (EMS) as it is the core function of the Health Department and not Public Works, Roads and Transport,” said Mr David Nkambule the department’s spokesperson in a media inquiry sent to the department.

“In essence of the matter the Department is engaging the Department of Health with regard to get a solution because the EMS services are a mandate of the

Department of Health and Social Development,” said Nkambule.

When this newspaper asked him about the employees who were hired for the ambulances services he they were performed other duties within the department because the ambulance’s function was no longer within the department.

Nkambule couldn’t comment on whether the employees were paid their acting allowances or not didn’t say anything on the question asked on the future of the employees.