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The refusal by KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Health (DoH) spokesperson - and by association Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu – to comment on the Department’s failure to implement its own medical volunteer policy during the Covid-19 pandemic is a slap in the face to every healthcare worker in our province.

According to a recent media report, when questioned about this massive bungle, the Spokesperson refused to respond on the matter, instead stating that the DA was resorting to ‘cheap politics’.

This after the DA established through a Public Access to Information Application (PAIA) that, despite the DoH’s claims to the contrary, it did in fact have a policy in place for volunteers which has been in existence since 2005. (view here)

The DA regards the attitude of the MEC and her Department as highly concerning. Instead of dealing with the blatant deficiencies within the DoH in the recruitment and placement of willing medical volunteers such as myself, she and her officials have again reverted to unsubstantiated claims.

It is clear that in her arrogance, MEC Simelane-Zulu cannot deal with constructive criticism and political accountability. It was she who originally called for medical volunteers in April 2020 and the failure to monitor the administration of her programme falls squarely on her shoulders.

The truth of the matter is that the MEC and her Department have been exposed. Their actions are indefensible and have thus forced them into silence, hiding behind spurious allegations of 'cheap politics'.

As a province, we all still remember the pleas of doctors, nurses and patients for additional support during the first and second Covid-19 waves within KZN. There were numerous crises, as seen with patient complaints and sadly, even deaths at many provincial hospitals, including Addington, Northdale and Wentworth Hospitals. Preliminary investigations revealed that staff shortages were a primary cause.

The DA today renews its call that MEC Simelane-Zulu urgently apologise to healthcare workers for the delays in recruitment of medical volunteers. Additionally, she must urgently intervene to ensure that the Department's own Medical Volunteer Policy is enforced.

If the MEC continues to fail to respond to our call, as the DA we reserve our rights to take further action. Our primary aim is to protect both healthcare workers and patients, particularly with the expected third Covid-19 wave.

Issued by The DA