Doctors' Union Marches to Demand Employment

The South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) marched to the Provincial Legislature on January 17 to address unemployment among doctors and the declining state of healthcare in Mpumalanga.

Samatu’s key demands include:

• The immediate employment of all qualified and registered medical practitioners currently unemployed within two weeks.
• Re-employment of 389 contract workers whose contracts expire on March 31.
• Absorption of all bursary holders in healthcare fields into public health institutions.

Dr. Nhlanhla Valerio, speaking at the march, expressed the union’s frustration: “We are gathered here today to express our anger and frustrations as healthcare workers in Mpumalanga, united against the worst and horrible conditions of the healthcare system.”

A memorandum of demands was handed over to acting premier Speed Mashilo and MEC for health Sasekani Manzini. Samatu has requested a written response by January 27.

The march highlights growing concerns about the strained healthcare system in the province and the need for urgent intervention.