WATCH | Eastern Cape emergency telephones still down

JOHANNESBURG - Phone lines at Emergency Medical Services and other facilities in the Eastern Cape are still down.

The lines were disconnected a week ago after the provincial health department failed to pay service providers.

The situation is so dire that staff members are forced to use their cellphones to handle medical emergencies.

The Eastern Cape Health Department says it's working on the matter and is urging those in need of assistance to use alternative numbers.

eNCA's Nceba Ntlanganiso has the details in the video above.