A total of 31 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDI ambulances with 2,2-litre turbo diesel engines worth a total of R7,7-million have been handed over by Daimler Chrysler South Africa to the Department of Health (Ehlanzeni District) in Mpumalanga (13 vehicles) and to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services in Cape Town (18 vehicles). The 13 ambulances to Mpumalanga province forms part of an initial order of 30 ambulances worth R7,5-million to be delivered within the next few months. A further 30 units will be placed within this financial year. The keys of the first Mpumalanga ambulance were handed over by Geoff Du Plessis, management board member of the commercial vehicle division of Daimler Chrysler SA to the MEC of Health, Ms Manana at Shongwe Hospital. For the Western Cape order, Dr Jan Lourens, divisional manager of M-B commercial vehicles, handed over the keys of the first Sprinter to Nic Koornhof, Provincial Minister of Health on the premises of McCarthy Truck Centre in Montague Gardens. Dr Allan McMahon, who is in charge of Emergency Medical Health in the Western Cape, began designing ambulance interiors in 1970 and his designs were adapted for the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to match the latest most modern ambulance equipment used in the European Union. The ambulances for both provinces were constructed by Ambuclin in Pinetown.
	A demonstration.... they work
	L-r: Dr Jan lourens - Divisional Manager M-B Commercial Vehicle Division DCSA, Dr Wayne Smith - Deputy Director of Emergency Medical Health - Western Cape, Nic Koornhof - Provincial Minister of Health and senior personnel.

A major advantage of the Sprinter is that it is big and high enough to also serve as doctor's rooms and ambulance personnel can stand upright in the vehicle. The new ambulance can carry three patients, one more than the previous minibus ambulances.

"Having won the public tenders in both these provinces, we are confident we will soon be expecting orders from other provinces and negotiations are continuing with Gauteng province," says Du Plessis.

Given that there have been so many complaints by members of the public around the country of the lousy service being dished out by ambulance services, it's heartening to hear news of improvements in this arena. It's tax payers' money well spent - far more useful, we'd say, than buying R46-billion of military junk.

Let's end with a maths quiz. If R7,7-million buys 31 ambulances, how many ambulances will R46-billion buy for South Africans. First correct answer wins a used submarine.