Stakeholders welcome 'long overdue' new healthcare positions in KZN

The announcement of 270 new posts to be advertised by KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has been welcomed by the South African Medical Association (SAMA), Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA), and the DA in KwaZulu-Natal.

Following an Executive Council meeting last week, Simelane announced that 150 doctor positions (100 medical officers and 50 medical specialists) and 120 nursing positions (40 specialised nurses and 80 entry-level nurses) would be created. 

Simelane said this is to strengthen the public health system and provide essential human capital where it is needed.

The new posts are expected to be advertised this week. 

SAMA chairperson Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said the announcement is a direct and tangible outcome of their urgent interventions with the premier (Thamsanqa Ntuli) in July 2025. 

The development reflects the premier’s commitment to securing additional resources, engaging directly with the president (Cyril Ramaphosa), and reprioritising funds to absorb more healthcare professionals into the public system. 

“While this is an important and positive step forward, we must emphasise that it is only a drop in the ocean when compared to the hundreds of doctors still unemployed in KZN and the thousands awaiting posts nationally. The crisis is far from resolved, and sustained action remains essential,” Mzukwa said. 

He said that for unemployed doctors and nurses, the announcement offers a much-needed opportunity to put their skills to use, contribute to patient care, and gain valuable professional experience. It will help alleviate some of the severe staffing shortages in KZN’s public health facilities, improving access to care and strengthening service delivery.

“However, with many healthcare professionals still without work, the broader challenge persists,” Mzukwa said.

“SAMA will continue advocating for the employment of all qualified doctors nationally, as every unemployed healthcare worker represents a wasted resource in a country facing critical health system pressures.”

The PSA and DA described the move as “long overdue”.

PSA KZN organiser Nkosinathi Thwala said the action comes after months of silence while thousands of qualified health professionals remain unemployed. 

He said KZN’s public health system is in crisis due to severe and chronic understaffing, leading to collapsed service delivery and unacceptable working conditions for existing staff.

“The department’s failure to fill critical vacancies has fuelled frustration and unrest among health workers and communities alike,” Thwala said. 

“By finally committing to this mass recruitment, the MEC acknowledges the depth of the crisis and the urgent need for intervention.” 

Thwala called for a recruitment process that is transparent, swift, and free from any form of corruption or favouritism. It must be the start of a sustained and comprehensive effort to rebuild the health system — including fair remuneration, improved working conditions, and infrastructure investment.

DA KZN health spokesperson Dr Imran Keeka said: “The DA believes that this will go a long way in alleviating pressure within KZN’s healthcare system, reducing patient waiting times, easing the burden of long working hours on existing staff, and ultimately decreasing the likelihood of medical errors. 

“While we remain acutely aware that this intervention is not yet sufficient, when compared to the true scale of need, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction.” 

Keeka said this is the result of the department collaborating with Provincial Treasury and undergoing a rigorous, line-by-line review of expenditure.

He said it is also possible that funding was reallocated from other provincial government departments. If this is the case, the DA will seek clarity on the amount made available and the impact thereof, particularly if the funds have come from other frontline departments.

“We firmly believe that improved management of KZN’s health budget, reinforced by strong oversight and an uncompromising approach to rooting out corruption, will unlock the potential to deliver more services to those who need them most,” Keeka said. 

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za