In Conversation With Emma More -Member of the Provincial Legislature and ActionSA Member of the Health Committee
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Gauteng’s public healthcare system is once again under scrutiny following a strongly worded statement by Emma More of ActionSA, who has raised alarm over delays in approving a modernised staff structure for the Gauteng Department of Health.
At the core of the issue is a structural mismatch: Gauteng’s current healthcare staffing model is still based on a 2006 framework designed to serve approximately 9.5 million people. Fast forward to 2026, the province now serves over 16 million residents, placing immense strain on already overburdened hospitals and clinics.
Healthcare workers across the province have repeatedly flagged burnout, long working hours, and unsafe staff-to-patient ratios. Patients, in turn, face long waiting times, overcrowded facilities, and in some cases, compromised quality of care.
Despite these realities, the provincial government maintains that recruitment is ongoing through “funded vacancies.” However, critics argue that this approach is fundamentally flawed—filling positions within an outdated structure does not address the actual scale of demand or modern healthcare delivery needs.
The delay in approving a new staff establishment has been attributed to bureaucratic processes, including consultations and “quality assurance” checks. The Premier has indicated that the revised structure will be submitted to the Department of Public Service and Administration by May 2026.
ActionSA has rejected this timeline as inadequate, arguing that lives are at risk while administrative processes drag on. The party has committed to escalating the matter through legislative oversight, demanding transparency on hiring, and pushing for accountability from both the Premier’s office and the Health MEC.
At the core of the issue is a structural mismatch: Gauteng’s current healthcare staffing model is still based on a 2006 framework designed to serve approximately 9.5 million people. Fast forward to 2026, the province now serves over 16 million residents, placing immense strain on already overburdened hospitals and clinics.
Healthcare workers across the province have repeatedly flagged burnout, long working hours, and unsafe staff-to-patient ratios. Patients, in turn, face long waiting times, overcrowded facilities, and in some cases, compromised quality of care.
Despite these realities, the provincial government maintains that recruitment is ongoing through “funded vacancies.” However, critics argue that this approach is fundamentally flawed—filling positions within an outdated structure does not address the actual scale of demand or modern healthcare delivery needs.
The delay in approving a new staff establishment has been attributed to bureaucratic processes, including consultations and “quality assurance” checks. The Premier has indicated that the revised structure will be submitted to the Department of Public Service and Administration by May 2026.
ActionSA has rejected this timeline as inadequate, arguing that lives are at risk while administrative processes drag on. The party has committed to escalating the matter through legislative oversight, demanding transparency on hiring, and pushing for accountability from both the Premier’s office and the Health MEC.
