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Reports today reveal that a private ambulance transporting a critically injured patient was delayed at the Carousel Toll Plaza outside Pretoria, because cashiers refused to let paramedics through without paying the toll fee. The patient eventually succumbed to his injuries and had died by the time the ambulance arrived at the Netcare Montana Hospital in Pretoria.

This is shocking.

After pleading with cashiers for over 5 minutes, the ambulance was eventually allowed to pass only because another motorist settled the fee for them. Cashiers reportedly informed paramedics that “nobody is allowed through without making payment, not even police.”

Though the patient’s injuries were indeed so severe that he might have succumbed to them in any case, as paramedic on the scene, Rikus Oosthuizen stated, “every minute is a golden hour to save a life. In the minutes we waited, we could have transported any other patient to hospital quicker for more support.”

Emergency vehicles must be exempt from paying toll fees.

Transport Minister Ben Martins must urgently launch an inquiry into exactly what happened at the Carousel Plaza. I will also be pushing for Minister Martins to meet with all toll road companies and, if necessary, amend both the contracts with toll road and any legislation pertaining to this to ensure that emergency services are exempt from toll fees. In addition, the Minister must ensure that all emergency services are given priority lanes which guarantee unhindered passage for them and the patients they carry through toll gates.

Emergency services cannot and should not be expected to pay toll fees – the cargo they carry is precious and every second they are delayed, lives are being put at risk.