South Africa’s Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, has released findings into two separate patient deaths in Tshwane. These findings point to serious breakdowns in safety systems, clinical governance and accountability across both public and private care settings. The first investigation centres on the June 2024 death of 35-year-old psychiatric patient Lerato Mohlamme at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital near Ga-Rankuwa.…
Tag: Gauteng Health
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Gauteng Hospital Overcrowding: MEC Denial Sparks Backlash
Gauteng Hospital Overcrowding is one of the pressing issues facing Gauteng’s public health system and is contributing to its credibility problem. It is not only about beds, wards, or staffing. It is also about how leadership responds when patients and clinicians describe conditions that feel unsafe and undignified. This week, Gauteng health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko pushed back against claims that…
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Treasury Threatens Health Departments with Takeover
The National Treasury is poised to take drastic action against four provincial health departments, threatening a national takeover following reports of gross financial mismanagement and collapsing service delivery. Treasury will demand fiscal accountability from Health MECs in four key provinces. This forthcoming ultimatum forces KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Gauteng, and the Northern Cape to provide immediate recovery plans or yield…
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Stark Warning Against NHI: Lessons from Gauteng
Gauteng’s Department of Health is in crisis. It runs South Africa’s largest provincial health system. Its condition provides a stark warning against NHI. It highlights the significant dangers posed by the new Act. The department is plagued by mismanagement. It suffers from deep corruption and no accountability. This raises grave concerns about the state. Is it ready to manage a…
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Tembisa Hospital Corruption Investigation Findings
A sprawling web of organised corruption has systematically looted an estimated R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital. This has transformed the public healthcare facility into a captured state economy, exploited by criminal syndicates and corrupt officials. An explosive interim report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) details a coordinated scheme. It implicates rogue officials from both the hospital and the Gauteng…
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Cancer Court Battle: Patients Deserve Better Treatment
Concerns are mounting over the Gauteng Department of Health’s persistent legal challenges against court orders compelling it to address the province’s devastating cancer treatment backlog. This ongoing cancer court battle highlights significant issues within the healthcare system. Instead of complying with two separate High Court rulings, the department is channelling taxpayer money into an appeal process. This leaves thousands of…
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SA’s Health System Under Strain Amid 25,000 Vacancies
South Africa’s public health system is under strain. It is buckling under the immense pressure of more than 25,000 critical staff vacancies, shrinking budgets, and a staggering national debt of R24 billion in accruals. An investigation into provincial health departments reveals a sector in crisis. Dwindling resources are colliding with overwhelming patient demand. This forces the postponement of essential medical…
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Kempton Park Hospital Security Under Public Scrutiny
The Gauteng health department is under fire for spending more than R35 million on security guards at the derelict Kempton Park Hospital. This facility has stood empty and abandoned for nearly three decades. Despite the exorbitant cost of Kempton Park Hospital’s security, the building has been ravaged by vandals. It has been stripped of its fittings and covered in graffiti,…
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Court Orders Cancer Treatment to End Backlog
The Gauteng High Court has ordered the provincial Department of Health to immediately tackle the severe oncology backlog, ruling that their appeal cannot delay life-saving treatment for cancer patients. The Gauteng High Court delivered a crucial judgment yesterday, ordering the provincial department of health (GDoH) to enforce a plan to clear its cancer treatment backlog immediately. The court ruled that…
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Vaccine Misinformation: Combating False Narratives
The Gauteng Department of Health has launched a massive vaccination campaign to curb the spread of measles and rubella. Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko issued a stern warning to parents against dangerous vaccine misinformation circulating on social media. Addressing vaccine misinformation is crucial to ensure the success of the campaign. Speaking at the campaign launch, Nkomo-Ralehoko appealed directly to parents and…
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SA’s Cuba Doctor Programme Faces Growing Doubts
Almost 30 years since its inception, the Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro (NMFC) medical training programme, which sends South African students to Cuba, is facing a storm of criticism over its staggering costs. Additionally, there is a lack of transparent data and questionable relevance in a country that now struggles to employ its own locally trained doctors. Once a flagship post-apartheid initiative,…
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Gauteng Health Budget to Transform Healthcare Services
The Gauteng Department of Health has received a budget of R67 billion for the 2025-26 financial year. This initiative aims to overhaul service delivery, modernise infrastructure, and tackle critical healthcare needs across the province. The Gauteng Health Budget places a strong emphasis on these improvements. During a media briefing at the provincial legislature, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu…