By Akani Nkuna
Dr. Langanani Mbodi, President of the South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU), has threatened to shut down the country’s healthcare system if the government fails to address unemployed doctors’ demands.
Mbodi made these remarks to Inside Politics during the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) march, held in support of SAMATU.
The march took place on Friday, starting at the Union Buildings and ending at the National Treasury offices in Pretoria. It included protesters from the Dentist Professionals Association (DPA), COSATU, and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL).
“We are giving government a maximum of three weeks to listen to our pleas, if not we are going to mobilise and come back out in big numbers. Because even those that are employed, like me, we feel the pain. We feel the pinch,” said Mbodi.
“If I have to attend to so many patients alone [then] every single day when I get home, I am physically and mentally exhausted. So, they need to come on-board, if not we promise that we are going to shut down the healthcare system in the country.”
SAMATU is calling on the government to address critical healthcare challenges, including unemployed doctors, staff shortages, and inadequate infrastructure and security in medical facilities.
Despite the sector’s importance, unemployment among health practitioners continues to rise.
The union blames both the previous administration and the current Government of National Unity (GNU) for failing to tackle the crisis.
“The World Health Organization recommends a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:1000, but in South Africa, it exceeds 1:3000,” said Mbodi.
“This is unhealthy and destabilizes the country’s healthcare system.”
Members of SAMATU, the Dentist Professionals Association (DPA), COSATU) and the ANC Youth League marched to National Treasury offices in Pretoria on Friday. PHOTO: Rivoningo Ndhlovu
SAMATU has the support of COSATU in its stance opposing the National Treasury’s poorly planned budget cuts, arguing that reduced spending in critical sectors like health has severe consequences, negatively impacting public services and overall healthcare quality.
“Budget cuts in health, education, security, and other essential services are not just bad policy; they are a death sentence for the working class,” said COSATU President Zingiswa Losi, addressing unemployed doctors and medical students outside the National Treasury offices.
South African Communist Party (SACP) Chairperson Thulas Nxesi slammed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for advising young doctors to seek employment abroad or in the private sector, calling the statement irresponsible, unacceptable, and reckless.
He insisted that no minister should make such remarks.
Nxesi further demanded a retraction of the statement, stressing the need for government accountability in tackling unemployment among medical professionals.
“We need also to improve our hospitals. It is an embarrassment what we read on a daily basis a daily basis and we hear about the state of our hospitals. And to come and say that the doctors must go and look for jobs overseas is unacceptable,” said Nxesi.
“How do you train these doctors and others who are still the pipeline and come and tell that they must go outside this particular country. Are you then not encouraging the brain drain from this country?”
SAMATU urged National Treasury to allocates funds to employ unemployed healthcare workers. PHOTO: Rivoningo Ndhlovu
INSIDE POLITICS
