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The Gauteng Department of Health continues to drag its heels on paying suppliers despite assurances by Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Finance MEC Nkululeko Dunga at the Unpaid Service Provider Imbizo last month.
The Imbizo was convened to address a massive provincial backlog of R7.5 billion in unpaid invoices for consumables and for work undertaken by service providers to the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG). Of the R7.5 billion owed to suppliers, the Gauteng Department of Health accounted for R3.6 billion.

The Democratic Alliance calls on Premier Lesufi, MEC Dunga and the Gauteng MEC for Health, Faith Mazibuko to make good on their promises by paying outstanding invoices as a matter of urgency. We further call on the Gauteng Department of Health HOD, Dr Darion Barclay, to urgently address the backlog in invoice processing across hospitals throughout the province.

Despite promising “weekly updates” on outstanding payment matters, the Gauteng Department of Health still has not paid two service providers who approached the DA, with both saying they have waited more than a year for payment from the department’s infrastructure division. The suppliers asked to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.

In addition, the Public Service Commission also revealed that the proportion of invoices paid within the prescribed 30-day period declined from 53% in Quarter 4 of the 2025/26 financial year to 48% in Quarter 1 of 2026/27. This decline highlights persistent weaknesses in financial management and invoice processing controls, which continue to delay payments to service providers.

Gauteng Health performed even worse, paying only 48% of invoices within the prescribed 30-day period in Quarter 4 of 2025/26. This fell further to 43% in Quarter 1 of 2026/27, making the department a persistent offender of late payments to suppliers and service providers. At the end of Quarter 4, R3 966 495 821,00 was still owed for a period longer than 30 days. At the end of Quarter 1, R2 520 856 850,00 was still owed by the Department.

It is deeply concerning that this department continues to delay payments to service providers, which puts patients at risk. When suppliers go unpaid, they may withhold essential medicines, medical equipment, and other critical supplies, leaving patients to suffer the consequences of the government’s failure to pay its bills within the stipulated timeframe.

A DA-led Gauteng Government would not allow bureaucratic failures to compromise supplier payments and, ultimately, the quality of care patients receive. We would prioritise timely supplier payments, responsible budgeting and efficient procurement to ensure our hospitals have the medicines, equipment and services needed to provide quality care.

Issued by Madeleine Hicklin MPL - DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Health