ALS Paramedics Demands Apology From KZN Transport MEC Duma Over Adverse Remarks 

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Durban – ALS Paramedics is demanding an apology from KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma for adverse comments he made regarding a horror crash in which 11 people died.

In a letter, seen by The Bulrushes, written by WJ Rogers & Associates to MEC DUMA, the lawyers stated: “We are instructed on behalf of ALS Paramedics (Pty) Ltd” to demand a full retraction and apology to be issued to all media houses that interviewed you, as well as sent out on all public platforms.

The lawyers said MEC Duma made the offending comments in interviews after the deadly Isipingo collision involving a minibus taxi and a truck on Thursday, 29 January 2026, in which 11 people perished.

RELATED: Isiphingo Horror Crash: Truck Collsion With Minibus Taxi Leaves 11 Dead, 6 Injured – The Bulrushes

In the letter,  WJ Rogers & Associates complained that during the course of a one-on-one interview with the SABC, MEC Duma made disparaging remarks about ALS Paramedics, including that:

“… RTI, Metro, and SAPS are complaining about ALS ambulance service.

“They are saying they bully on scene and in some instances they fluctuate numbers.

“Like for instance, they told that there were 12 people who have died, which is not true.

“And two weeks ago, during that accident that took place, they say that 11 people were affected or were injured, which is a fallacy.

“There were only 3 school-going children in the school, and all of them were not even injured.

“So it’s something that they must desist from doing because it’s not right, and we are saying that scenes like these are so sensitive, you cannot even just overlay and check that you don’t have the medical aid, they are not going to assist you.

‘’Which is why we prefer our system that has been dispatched by MEC Simelane, that they just take everyone up until the process has been stabilised and check whether you want to go to a private hospital or public hospital…”

MEC Duma also undertook a joint interview with the SABC, Newsroom Afrika, and ENCA, where he made the following comments about ALS Paramedics:

“…When they (ALS) enter the scene they tend to bulldoze, I’m sure you know by now that they are also insensitive in some instances, if you don’t have a medical aid they are not going to assist you, if it means you are dying, if it means they could still save you, it is something why we prefer you deal with the department of health, I’ve already all the time mentioned that the MEC of health is always dispatching a qualified and stronger team on the scene, they are not saying you are going to be excluded…”

Rejecting MEC Duma’s remarks, WJ Rogers & Associates said, we record on behalf of our client as follows:

“Your statements are false, vexatious, malicious, and defamatory of our client’s professional reputation;

“At the scene in question, our client in fact transported two patients without medical aid to public hospitals (Albert Luthuli Hospital), and it does so on an ongoing basis where required;

“Our client assisted four patients on scene, and transported two to hospital (the two non-medical aid patients already mentioned).”

Responding to MEC Duma’s comments that EMRS (the provincial ambulance service) provides a “stronger” service than ALS Paramedics, the lawyers revealed that all the EMRS medical response vehicles that attended the scene in question were non-compliant with the National Health Act 61 of 2003 and the Emergency Medical Services Regulations 2017.

“EMRS arrived an hour after our client was at the scene,” the lawyers stated.

“The EMRS ambulance vehicles which attended the scene were thus operating unlawfully at the time and potentially committing a criminal offence in terms of Section 90 of the National Health Act 61 of 2003.

“In addition, the EMRS paramedics that attended the scene in question lacked even basic pain-medication and an ECG monitor and had requested same from our client.

“By suggesting this service is stronger than our client’s service is thus harmful to the public who may follow your misguided opinion and thus risk their own lives by relying on an emergency medical service which lacks the most basic of equipment and medication.”

In their letter,  WJ Rogers & Associates gave MEC Duma until 13h00 on Monday, 2 February 2026, to retract his statement and apologise.

If the MEC fails to do so, the lawyers said they would proceed with legal action to compel him to do so.

Developing story…

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