The Eastern Cape Department of Health has launched a probe after footage surfaced showing EMS workers apparently sleeping while on duty in Nelson Mandela Bay. An investigation has been launched into a video seen by IOL that shows emergency workers in Nelson Mandela Bay sleeping on duty, raising serious concerns about public safety and the standards of emergency services. Eastern Cape health spokesperson Camagwini Mavovana confirmed the inquiry, stating that the footage depicts workers slumped at their desks, fast asleep.
While Mavovana acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, she noted that the video is reportedly over six months old, which raises questions about its timing and context. The health department’s response follows an inquiry from IOL early on Saturday morning, after which it released a public statement. She said the department had established that the images and video were more than six months old, based on identifiable markers in the footage.
“It is therefore clear that the footage is old, and the intention to distribute it at this time could be part of a smear campaign against the department,” she said. Mavovana sought to reassure the public that EMS remains a critical component of the province’s healthcare system, processing and responding to thousands of emergency calls daily.
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