/ 27 January 1999

AMBULANCES SEIZED

THE Western Gauteng Services Council seized all the ambulances from the West Rand town of Krugersdorp on Monday, because it has allegedly failed to respond to emergency calls. The ambulances are owned by the province, but operated by agents, in this case the Krugersdorp municipality. Dr Philip van Rensburg, director of Gauteng’s emergency services, said the five ambulances were taken to the services council’s offices, where they are being operated by reservists and volunteers. On Tuesday, West Rand emergency services personnel congregated in some 30 emergency vehicles outside the Krugersdorp Town Hall in protest against the seizure. A spokesperson for the protesters denied the Krugersdorp ambulance service had failed to respond to emergency calls.