“Establishing a dedicated private air ambulance service in Polokwane is an important step in extending access to specialist emergency medical response across Limpopo,” says Hendrik Louw, CEO of Rocket.
“Our focus is on ensuring patients and communities have access to an integrated medical emergency response capability where rapid intervention, clinical decision-making and appropriate transport can make a meaningful difference to outcomes.”
For the past four years, Rocket has partnered with the Limpopo Department of Health (DoH) to operate the successful Pride of Limpopo Aeromedical Service from Polokwane, supporting the province’s emergency medical needs.
This expanded private service — officially operational from 1 November 2026 — extends time-critical emergency medical services and patient transfers to the private market across Limpopo’s outlying regions.
Operations remain integrated within the wider healthcare system through coordination between EMS personnel, receiving hospitals, and relevant healthcare stakeholders.
The Polokwane private air ambulance service operates from Polokwane Civil Airport, creating capacity to support our strategic partner, Limpopo DOH, during periods of high call volumes.
The private air ambulance service will also serve Rocket Connect members in the region, providing them with direct access to Rocket’s emergency medical response network and aeromedical resources when clinically and operationally appropriate.
An air ambulance service is particularly relevant where time, distance, road infrastructure, geography, or a patient’s clinical condition makes rapid access to definitive medical care critical.
By integrating aviation operations with clinical expertise and emergency medical coordination, an air ambulance service facilitates the rapid mobilisation of specialised resources and, where indicated, the transfer of critically ill or injured patients to an appropriate receiving facility.
“The new Polokwane service strengthens our private air ambulance infrastructure and improves access to specialist aeromedical response beyond South Africa’s major metropolitan centres,” says Louw.
“By integrating aeromedical capability, emergency medical expertise, centralised coordination, and road-based EMS resources, we’re providing a coordinated, patient-centred medical emergency response focused on clinical and operational safety.”
