VELDDRIF – The Western Cape NPO Association has appealed to the Western Cape Department of Health to expand ambulance services in the West Coast District, saying growing communities require improved access to emergency medical care. The Association has also arranged First Responder training to strengthen emergency response capacity.
In a letter addressed to Dr Keith Cloete, Head of the Western Cape Department of Health, the Association states that provincial emergency medical services are currently based in Vredenburg, with three ambulances serving the Saldanha Bay municipal area and, when available, Velddrif.
According to the Association, one ambulance is regularly assigned to patient transfers to hospitals in Cape Town, leaving two vehicles available to respond to emergencies across six towns.
The Association states that residents of Velddrif, Laaiplek and Dwarskersbos, with a combined population of about 21 000, do not have a permanently stationed ambulance service. It adds that emergency response times are generally between 45 and 60 minutes and may be longer during periods of high demand.
In its submission, the Association attributes the increased demand for emergency medical services to continued population growth and economic development in the region.
Statistics included in the letter indicate that the population of the Saldanha Bay Municipality increased from 99 193 residents in 2011 to 154 635 in 2022. The Association also notes that Velddrif has a population of about 12 000 residents and has been identified as an economic growth point in the Bergrivier Spatial Development Framework because of its strategic link to the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone.
The briefing note submitted by the Association further states that Moorreesburg and Riviersonderend have permanently stationed ambulance services, while Velddrif, despite having a larger population than Riviersonderend and a population comparable to Moorreesburg, relies on ambulances dispatched from Vredenburg.
According to the Association, the current allocation is the result of historical placement of ambulance bases, resource constraints and the absence of a local ambulance base in Velddrif. It further recommends that the allocation criteria for emergency medical services be reviewed to ensure equitable access across communities.
Among its recommendations are the establishment of a permanent ambulance base in Velddrif, the allocation of additional ambulances to the Vredenburg emergency medical service, the publication of transparent allocation criteria for ambulance bases and the integration of trained community volunteers to assist emergency services during periods of high demand. The Association says these proposals are aligned with the National Health Act, the Western Cape Health Act and the Constitution, which provide for equitable access to emergency medical services.
In the letter, Association chairperson Deon Britz writes: “The test of a government’s commitment to civil society is not what it says in policy documents, but what it invests when the sector faces a crisis.”
As part of its efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness, the Western Cape NPO Association has arranged First Responder Training for members of the Velddrif community.
Training will again take place at the Noordhoek Community Hall 11 and 12 August, 13 and 14 August, and 27 and 28 August, from 08:00 to 16:00.
According to the Association, the programme aims to equip community members with basic emergency response skills that can be used while professional emergency medical services are on their way.
Residents who would like more information or who wish to register can contact Deon Britz on 084 888 0597 or register online at
