District health leadership needs greater investment to help South Africa’s frontline managers improve care and prepare for National Health Insurance (NHI). According to Spotlight, researchers and health managers are testing approaches that replace punitive supervision with collaboration and trust. Their work addresses a persistent problem: facilities provide patient care, while provincial offices retain much financial and administrative authority. As a…
Tag: Healthcare Leadership
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Dis-Chem Leadership Succession Ends Saltzman Era
Dis-Chem co-founder Ivan Saltzman has resigned from the pharmacy retailer’s board after 48 years. His departure ends the founding family’s formal representation in the company’s boardroom. The JSE-listed healthcare group said Saltzman stepped down as a non-executive director with effect from 23 July 2026. He retired as an executive director at the end of June. He then briefly served in…
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Nicholas Crisp’s NHI Departure Raises Leadership Concerns
Nicholas Crisp, a key figure behind South Africa’s National Health Insurance programme, is preparing to leave the National Health Department. Crisp heads the NHI programme and serves as acting director-general of health. He said he would leave government service after September 2026. The Cabinet previously allowed him to remain in his position for another two years. This extended his service…
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Intercare CEO Hendri Hanekom to Lead Strategic Expansion
Intercare, a private healthcare provider, has announced its first leadership transition in 25 years. The company has appointed Hendri Hanekom as the new CEO, effective from 1 April. Hanekom is a veteran of the organisation. He has spent nearly 18 years with the company. His journey is a testament to internal growth and dedication. He began his career in entry-level…
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George Mukhari Patient Death Exposes System Failures
South Africa’s public mental health system is back in the spotlight after the Health Ombud released findings into the George Mukhari Hospital death of 35-year-old Lerato Mohlamme, a psychiatric patient. She died from burn injuries after a fire at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) in June 2024. The report paints a picture of routine cruelty and dangerous neglect. It…
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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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Gauteng Health Budget Underspending Exposes Service Pressure
The provincial health department’s failure to spend its budget has once again placed Gauteng’s health system under the spotlight. This comes even as hospitals deteriorate and frontline gaps widen. The Gauteng health department projects an underspend of R725 million for the 2025–26 financial year ending 31 March. This is according to an official reply from the finance and economic development…