“Health is Road Safety”: Mashego & Mathye Launch Game‑Changing EMS Blitz at Kranskop Toll Plaza — Lifesaving Power Meets Highway Reality

Limpopo’s MEC for Health (BopheloPele),Dieketseng Mashego leading from the front.

By Mpho Dube | Editor‑in‑Chief, The Azanian

24 December 2025 — Johannesburg

In a bold, high‑octane display of government action meeting real‑world urgency, Limpopo’s MEC for Health (BopheloPele),Dieketseng Mashego, and MEC for Transport & Community Safety, Ms Violet Mathye, rolled out the “Arrive Alive EMS & Health Services” campaign yesterday at the bustling Kranskop Toll Plaza on the N1 in Modimolle — the gateway to Waterberg District.

Under the rallying cry “Health is Road Safety: Ensuring a Safe Passage for All”, the duo didn’t just cut ribbons — they turned the toll plaza into a mobile emergency hub. Ambulances, a fully equipped EMS helicopter, rescue vehicles, paramedic response teams, and a mobile clinic were parked side‑by‑side, ready to serve motorists on the spot.

“It’s not enough to build roads,” declared MEC Mashego, her voice cutting through the roar of engines and sirens. “If you don’t protect the lives traveling those roads, you’ve built nothing. Today, we bring health to the highway.”

Her counterpart, MEC Mathye, nodded sharply. “Road safety isn’t just about speed traps and signage. It’s about life‑saving response within minutes. That’s why we’re here — not waiting for emergencies, but meeting them head‑on.”

The event kicked off with a walkabout where the MECs personally inspected every vehicle — from the sleek EMS helicopter hovering overhead to the rugged rescue trucks ready for extrications, to the mobile clinic offering rapid health checks for travelers. They shook hands with paramedics, chatted with drivers, and even handed out “Know Your Health, Know Your Rights” pamphlets to passing motorists.

“It’s surreal,” said taxi driver Thabo Nkosi, pausing his route to get a blood pressure check. “You usually only see these guys after something bad happens. Now they’re here before it does. That’s smart.”

The campaign is a flagship initiative of the 7th Administration, aligning with Premier Phophi Ramathuba’s vision to “Leave No One Behind” and “Grow Limpopo Together”. Both MECs emphasized that the program will roll out across major highways and rural corridors, deploying mobile EMS units during peak travel times and holiday seasons.

“This isn’t a one‑off stunt,” Mashego stressed. “It’s the new normal. Health and safety are inseparable. If you’re not healthy on the road, you won’t arrive alive.”

While Mashego’s tenure as Health MEC has been met with cautious optimism — some stakeholders noting her lack of clinical background but praising her energetic, hands‑on approach and commitment to staffing and infrastructure— yesterday’s launch showcased her ability to translate policy into tangible action.

Mathye, known for her no‑nonsense focus on community safety, brought the transport perspective: “We’re not just moving people — we’re protecting them. And that starts with having the right medical response at the right place, at the right time.”

As the sun set on Kranskop, the EMS helicopter lifted off with a roar, and the convoy of ambulances and rescue vehicles pulled away — a vivid reminder that in Limpopo, health and road safety are now one mission.

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Limpopo’s MEC for Health (BopheloPele),Dieketseng Mashego, and MEC for Transport & Community Safety, Ms Violet Mathye, rolled out the “Arrive Alive EMS & Health Services” campaign yesterday at the bustling Kranskop Toll Plaza on the N1 in Modimolle — the gateway to Waterberg District.

“Arrive Alive EMS & Health Services” campaign yesterday at the bustling Kranskop Toll Plaza on the N1 in Modimolle — the gateway to Waterberg District.