The opening demand of the Freedom Charter states that the people shall govern.

28 years into democracy, I am sure that the writers of the Freedom Charter never dreamed that under their own ANC, that the health services they dreamed about would be so dysfunctional.

The past two years have been harrowing for most South Africans, who have experienced loss on a scale and magnitude that is almost unfathomable. If not for NPOs, NGOs, FBOs and the private sector providing extra resources and expertise, we would not have come out of Covid-19 as we did.

Despite government telling us that they are pro-poor, it would seem that the opposite is in fact the case. The AG has again advised that there is no improvement in governance, procurement and project management, with huge irregular and unauthorized expenditure.

As a result, the poorest of the poor bear the brunt of the abysmal management of our health systems. In the last two years, the SIU has uncovered 45 matters to the value of R2.1 billion, which have been referred to the Special Tribunal. 224 officials face disciplinary action while 386 cases have been referred to the NPA.

This was money stolen from a system that should have uplifted health for the poorest and most vulnerable. But the fish rots from the top. Massive shortages of staff and critical skills, which do not even appear on government’s most recent critical skills list, have resulted in shattered and exhausted nursing staff at most facilities.

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