Hon Speaker, 73 ambulances bought by the North West Department of Health and Social Development for use during the 2010 Fifa World Cup will now be made available to clinics and hospitals in the province. The Bojanala Platinum district received 28 ambulances, the Ngaka Modiri Molema district received 17, and the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district received 16.
Ten ambulances will render services in the Dr Russo Gomu Tsomo party districts and the two remaining ambulances will provide services at the North West Emergency Medical Rescue Services College in Orkney.
The redistribution of these ambulances will help address the shortage of ambulances. Although this will not eradicate the problem, the redistribution will go a long way towards addressing the transportation needs of patients who, until now, had to struggle to get to hospital. The ANC welcomes this initiative and urges other provinces to follow suit. We urge ambulance drivers not to be negligent or abuse these vehicles for private use. I thank you. [Applause.]