Premier Mandla Ndlovu and Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini unveiled the new ambulances at the Mbombela Stadium yesterday.
The latest addition brings the province closer to its target of expanding emergency medical services across all communities.
The Premier said the provincial government aims to increase the fleet to 204 ambulances, which would enable two wards out of the province’s 400 wards to share an ambulance.

READ | Patients encouraged to collect medication in advance

“We need to have enough ambulances. However, in terms of our target ratio, I don’t think we are there yet. The MEC and I had hoped that we would reach that target during this financial year, but unfortunately we have not.

Today, we handed over additional ambulances to strengthen our 180 out of 204 target of emergency medical services fleet and better meet the growing demand within our communities.

Our goal is for every two wards, out of the province's 400 wards, to share an ambulance that will… pic.twitter.com/PmqZcbhAPb

— Mandla Ndlovu 🇿🇦 (@Mandla_Ndl) July 2, 2026

“This is a journey, and we will eventually achieve our goal of 204 ambulances. Please take care of these vehicles. I also want to express my appreciation to our healthcare workers who continue to care for our people,” said Ndlovu.

READ MORE | Train of Hope brings healthcare services to Mbombela

He also urged motorists to make way for emergency medical service vehicles, emphasising that they transport patients who require urgent medical attention. “When you see the flashing red lights and hear the siren, you should know that we have the right of way because we are carrying sick and injured patients.

“We want to ensure that they arrive at our healthcare facilities on time. Even during protests, people must allow ambulances to pass because they have the right of way,” he said.

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On May 2, Phindile Matihakoane, (39) safely delivered triplets proving the facility’s capacity to provide specialised, high care services in a rural setting.

Triplet pregnancies are rare, classified high risk multiple gestations, and are frequently associated with preterm delivery between nd 34 weeks of gestation. Such cases typically require advanced maternal and neona intensive care.

The first infant was born at deliveries at 07:40 with a birth weight of 2,470 g, the second at 07:42 weighing 2,530 and the third at 07:44 with a birth weight of 1,790 g.

READ | Province welcomes Christmas babies

The Department of Health commended the staff for ensuring safety stating the infants are receiving postnatal care. The mother, now a parent of six children (having previously delivered twins and one child ), expressed her gratitude and joy at the outcome.

MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini, extended best wishes to the mother and acknowledged the exceptional efforts of the healthcare professionals.

“During Workers’ Month, this achievement highlights the diligence and efficiency with which our staff serve the public. It is further evidence of the capability and resilience of our healthcare system, and we celebrate the excellence consistently demonstrated within our facilities,” said MEC Manzini.

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MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini, officiating at receiving New Year Babies on 1 January 2026, expressed a dire concern pertaining to the high number of underaged teenagers who have been dominating statistics of baby-making within the province and expressed a dire concern in the increasing numbers.

“We’re here today to welcome our New Year babies, which at the moment stands at more than 50 babies born on this day throughout the province. The first baby was born in Emalahleni where we were with the Premier on Christmas Day. Here at Shongwe Hospital, we received five babies by midday.

She said of rising concern to the department and the Premier, are the increasing numbers of teenagers who dominate statistics among mothers of both Christmas and New Year babies born in this province.

READ | Province welcomes Christmas babies

“This has raised a serious concern among the leadership of the province to investigate the circumstances surrounding this dastardly occurrence of increasing cases of teenage pregnancy and motherhood. Surely, this exposes the fact that there exists no sexual education to this generation and subsequently, this looks like some may emerge as cases of sexual abuse by elderly figures in our communities and calls for a drastic clampdown on this seemingly Gender Based Violence (GBV) meted out against young girls in our communities.”

Manzini added that the department will, therefore, respond by collecting data from the affected individuals to ascertain if their pregnancies occurred as a result of forced sexual activity or any other way it took place.

“Should there be consent with the perpetrators, we will follow legal procedures by escalating information collected to our colleagues in the Department of Social Development, who will escalate their findings to legal experts who will ascertain if charges have to be brought against the perpetrators or not.

ALSO READ | Government calls on citizens to commemorate National Child Protection Week

Overall, it’s a serious concern for girls under 14 to be constantly counted among baby makers each time during the festive season. Nevertheless, effective ways to tackle this scourge, has to be implemented, but the perpetrators who will be revealed by our investigations, will face the might of the law by being punished accordingly,” concluded MEC Manzini.

Manzini welcomed newborn babies for the year 2026 at Shongwe Hospital and appreciated the healthcare workers who have been working throughout the festive season and beyond.

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This is after surgeons successfully removed a Wilms’ tumour on a child with thrombus extending from the left renal vein into the IVC, followed by IVC venotomy.

The child had a kidney cancer called Wilms which was operated and removed. The tumor caused an obstruction of the veins draining the kidney, which was complicated by a blood cloth extending from the renal vein to the big vein draining blood from the legs, pelvis and abdomen (body)all the way to the heart.

The Department Of Health says during the procedure, parts of the veins had to be removed and reconstructed, to allow blood to flow freely from the kidneys to the whole body.

The doctors who operated on the child include Dr Dave Tasker who is the head of the clinical unit at Rob Ferreira, a paediatric surgeon from Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, Dr Omar Khamag, Dr Paul Nepgen as an anaesthesia consultant.

READ | Operation Smile returns to Mpumalanga

This type of operation is said to the first of its kind to be performed at a public hospital in the province. MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini has commended the hospital for the successful procedure stating that the aim is to expand services order to manage complicated cases within the province.

“We are delighted and proud of our doctors for doing such a massive job. The fact that this operation is the first of its kind to be performed in our public hospital means a lot for us and more, especially people of the province.This is one positive achievement that demonstrates our commitment to bringing better health services to our people. Well done to Rob Ferreira Hospital and the team of doctors who performed the operation. To us, this is what we call, Umehluko wezempilo ebantwini“, she said.

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The above was stated by MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini during the launch of the 2025 Festive Season Contigency Plan on Tuesday morning on the N4. This was to outline comprehensive plans and interventions aimed at strengthening emergency readiness across the province.

Manzini emphasised on the importance of people taking care of themselves during the festive season, assuring that personnel of about 600 people in health facilities, including 27 managers, will be working around the clock.

“Our clinics will be open throughout, but we urge patients to make arrangements to collect it earlier from their local clinics. If you do not feel well, visit a healthcare facility and to those taking chronic medication, do ensure you continue taking medication and take good care of yourselves,” said Manzini.

Emergency Medical Services staff member, Phineas Nkosi said the province is ready and prepared with systems in place.
“All three districts are ready and we encourage communities to make contact should they experience any problems that need to be responded to urgently.”

The department’s Festive Season Contingency Plan is designed to ensure that health services remain fully functional and responsive during the holiday period.

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The visit saw Manzini assessing service delivery at the facility and its readiness for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).

The visit revealed encouraging progress and excellence in health service delivery within the Dr Pixley Ka Seme Sub-District.
The Following Are Key Observations Patient Experience:

• Patients reported high levels of satisfaction, highlighting consistent excellent services.
• The facility maintains extreme cleanliness, a fact confirmed during the visit.
• Waiting times were minimal, averaging less than an hour, owing to the effective use of the booking system.
• Medicine stock levels stood at 92%, ensuring that patients reliably receive their prescribed treatment.
• Wakkerstroom Clinic is fully accredited by the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC), which implies that the facility is ready to implement the NHI.
• It is also worth noting that the entire Dr Pixley Ka Seme Sub-District has achieved 100% OHSC accreditation across its eight Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities, as well as its two district hospitals – Elsie Ballot and Amajuba Hospitals.
  

All PHC facilities have achieved Platinum Status under the Ideal Clinic Programme and are supported by functional Health Patient Registration Systems (HPRS) with consistent connectivity. On the HIV & ART Programme (Closing the Gap campaign), the Mpumalanga’s 134 000 “Closing the gap” target, Dr Pixley Ka Seme Sub-District is tasked with tracing and re-engaging 1 370 clients by December 2025.

READ | Health MEC unveils upgraded health facility

Progress is being made because to date, 274 clients (20%) have been successfully brought back into care.
The number of patients on ART has increased from 11 788 to 11 926. It is encouraging to learn that client retention is strong, with 138 patients re-initiated into care.

When it comes to overall performance, the sub-district has demonstrated strong readiness for the roll-out of the NHI, excelling in service delivery, quality standards, and programme implementation.

MEC Manzini commended the commitment of health workers, management and all stakeholders for ensuring that Wakkerstroom Clinic and the Dr Pixley Ka Seme Sub-District, in general, stand out as models of excellence.

These achievements position the sub-district as a provincial benchmark for NHI readiness and best practice in health care delivery.

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Last weekend, the Premier, Mandla Ndlovu accompanied by Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, visited communities in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality where blankets were donated, as well as a newly-built, fully-furnished house was officially handed over to a child-headed family in Kutung village. This was with the assistance of Manzini who fundraised resources for the house to be built.

Ndlovu emphasised on the importance of giving back to communities in honour of the late icon.

VIDEO: The distributing of blankets continued last Saturday

To date, over 4000 blankets have been distributed through the blanket drive initiative that commenced on July 18 across the province including Gert Sibande, Nkangala and Ehlanzeni districts.

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The event, which is annually celebrated on April 25, took place at the Nutting House on May 2, bringing together distinguished guests, including traditional leaders and healthcare practitioners who collaborate with the Department of Health in the fight against malaria.

In her keynote address, MEC Manzini highlighted the significant progress, noting that malaria cases dropped from 2,578 last year to just 1,067 this year, representing a remarkable 59% decrease. “We are doing very well in the province as far as malaria is concerned. We’ve registered 2,578 cases in the previous financial year and only recorded 1,067 cases this year, which is a 59% decrease. This means we’re doing very well as a province in combating the disease,” she said.

The province’s malaria control efforts, including Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and community awareness campaigns, have proven effective. MEC Manzini attributed the success to the collaboration between the Department of Health and traditional leaders.

READ | SA records over 7 400 malaria cases

“Notably, the province has seen a significant decline in malaria-related deaths, from 21 last financial year to just three this year, with one case each in the Bushbuckridge, Mbombela, and Nkomazi municipalities. This underscores the effectiveness of our collaborative efforts with traditional authorities and practitioners, yielding positive outcomes,” she added.

The MEC emphasised the importance of continued collaboration in the fight against malaria, highlighting the department’s efforts in providing better treatment compared to the private sector. “We’ve made significant strides in raising awareness and providing effective treatment for malaria, which is driving our positive results. I believe that our healthcare facilities outperform the private sector in treating it, as evident in our statistics,” she noted.

The significant decline in malaria cases in Mpumalanga is a testament to the province’s commitment to eliminating the disease. The Department of Health remains focused on achieving its goal of malaria elimination, with ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems and engage communities in malaria prevention and control initiatives.

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This elation from MEC Manzini stems from their installation of state-of-the-art equipment that will enable the hospital with a full staff component comprising of highly trained and qualified personnel to treat patients with burn wounds within the province.

“This is evidence that we are advancing in our approach in treating patients in the province. This is a far-cry from the era when we referred burn patients to neighbouring provinces. Today we have our own experts and the right equipment and we are able to treat burn wounds within a short time as has been attested by two of our first patients in this ward

READ | Health MEC unveils upgraded health facility

“It is a positive sign that we are a government at work by caring for our people. We’re not only bring services to them closer and efficiently, but we’re ensuring that such services are right at their doorsteps to keep them healthy and alive,” too,” assured Manzini.

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The recruitment process was discussed in a meeting on Tuesday, February 4, at the government headquarters attended by Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, Premier Mandla Ndlovu and members of the South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU).

This comes after several unemployed medical doctors who received government-funded bursaries to study medicine, recently took to the streets and marched to the provincial government offices to demand jobs. Many of them stated that they have been having difficulty finding employment, despite completing their studies.

READ | Electronic medical system launched

In response to the recent protest, the Health MEC announced that despite budget constraints, the 7th Administration is expediting the recruitment of medical doctors to provide essential healthcare support in hospitals across the province.
“The process is at an advanced stage and will culminate into the appointment of 25 medical doctors, who are currently unemployed,” said the MEC during the briefing.

MEC Manzini also announced that the government will soon advertise 10 additional posts, intensifying efforts to enhance the capacity of Mpumalanga’s health facilities. This move aims to provide quality healthcare access to all communities, including rural areas. As part of this initiative, a total of 35 medical doctors will be employed, bolstering the province’s healthcare workforce.

Meanwhile, Premier Mandla Ndlovu assigned the Department of Health to work closely with SAMATU to address various issues which the union has raised concerns.

READ| Eswatini Health Ministry benchmarks with Mpumalanga Health Department

This development is a significant step towards improving the capacity of health facilities in Mpumalanga, particularly in rural areas. The employment of these medical doctors will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the healthcare sector in Mpumalanga.

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