A group of unemployed doctors will stage a sit-in protest outside the KwaZulu-Natal premier’s office today, demanding immediate action over the province’s failure to hire medical professionals despite a R20.8 billion national allocation to address critical healthcare shortages.
This marks the third such protest since January, with the South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU) accusing the provincial government of neglecting its duty to fill vacancies while relying on final-year medical students to cover staffing gaps.
Frustration Over Unfilled Posts
Dr. Cedric Sihlangu, SAMATU’s general secretary, expressed frustration over the lack of progress in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), contrasting it with other provinces that have begun recruitment processes.
“Other provinces have started advertising posts and conducting interviews, but KZN has not even advertised a single vacancy,” Sihlangu said. “Our members are frustrated, and the provincial leadership has been unresponsive despite repeated attempts to engage.”
The R20.8 billion budget, announced earlier this year, was meant to alleviate severe staff shortages in public healthcare, yet KZN has allegedly made no moves to utilize the funds for hiring.
Students Used as “Free Labour”
A major concern raised by protesters is the alleged exploitation of final-year medical students, who are reportedly being used to fill staffing gaps instead of qualified doctors.
“Students are being used as free slave labour, running around hospitals as if they are already doctors,” Sihlangu said. “They should be focusing on their studies, not covering for a system that refuses to hire the professionals it needs.”
Healthcare System Under Strain
The protest comes amid growing concerns over deteriorating conditions in public hospitals, exacerbated by understaffing. The recent death of a junior doctor, Dr. Alulutho Mazi, has further highlighted the extreme pressures faced by healthcare workers, with some reportedly forced to cover multiple wards alone.
Sihlangu warned that the province’s inaction is worsening an already dire situation. “When one doctor is expected to handle four wards, the system is bound to collapse,” he said.
Nationwide Shortages
South Africa’s doctor-to-patient ratio remains critically low at 0.3 doctors per 1,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended 2.5 per 1,000. Despite this, the national Health Department has previously suggested that unemployed doctors seek opportunities abroad—a stance SAMATU strongly opposes.
“We cannot afford to lose more doctors to other countries,” Sihlangu said. “The government must prioritize hiring the professionals we already have.”
Calls for Immediate Action
Protesters are demanding that the KZN Health Department urgently advertise vacancies and begin hiring. They also want Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube to intervene, accusing her administration of ignoring the crisis.
“The premier cannot claim ignorance when healthcare is collapsing under her watch,” Sihlangu said. “We will keep protesting until something is done.”
As the sit-in begins today, all eyes are on whether the provincial government will finally take action—or if the doctors’ pleas will once again go unheard.
