Polokwane – ROCKET, an independent air ambulance provider, has launched a private service in Polokwane, Limpopo.
The private air ambulance service was launched on Thursday, 5 November 2026.
“Establishing a dedicated private air ambulance service in Polokwane is an important step in extending access to specialist emergency medical response across Limpopo,” said Hendrik Louw, CEO of ROCKET.
This expands the organisation’s dedicated aeromedical response capability to the private sector in Limpopo, while supporting government healthcare services where needed.
“Our focus is on ensuring that 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 patient outcomes,” Louw said.
ROCKET Connect: Emergency medical assistance access for private members
The Polokwane private air ambulance service will also strengthen the medical emergency response available to ROCKET Connect members in Limpopo.
ROCKET Connect is a subscription-based EMS/HEMS solution that provides individuals, families, businesses, and tourism organisations with direct access to ROCKET’s emergency medical assistance infrastructure.
Members can activate assistance through the ROCKET Connect mobile application or through the ROCKET Emergency Management Centre, which operates 24/7.
In the event of a medical emergency, ROCKET Connect provides access to emergency medical assistance, including authorised, networked road ambulance services and air ambulance response – where the patient’s condition and ROCKET’s flight criteria indicate that an air ambulance is appropriate.
The service removes the need for members to navigate complex emergency arrangements during a medical crisis.
A key component of the service is ROCKET’s Emergency Management Centre which coordinates the emergency medical response and remains involved throughout the patient journey.
This provides members, their families, and business management teams with a single point of contact during what can otherwise be a highly stressful and fragmented emergency.
For private members, the benefit of having a dedicated air ambulance capability operating from Polokwane is the proximity of ROCKET’s aeromedical response resources in the region, subject to clinical need, aircraft availability, weather, landing-site suitability and ROCKET flight criteria.
“The new Polokwane service strengthens our private air ambulance infrastructure and improves access to specialist aeromedical response beyond South Africa’s major metropolitan centres,” said 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.”
