Doctors demand salaries

Doctors have been complaining to the Gauteng health department through the SA Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) about salaries owed to them – to no avail.

According to the union’s data, 48 medical interns, 14 community service doctors and several doctors under Covid-19 contracts have not been paid in Gauteng.

This was based on complaints received.

According to Samatu administrative officer Simon Madini, they contacted health head of department Lesiba Malotana and chief information officer Solly Cave after receiving numerous complaints about unpaid salaries.

The doctors have been in the service since January and were expecting their salaries at the end of the month. Two weeks later and there was no indication as to when their salaries would be paid.

The union has even written to Gauteng premier David Makhura asking for his intervention.

After numerous e-mails were exchanged between them and the department, there was no commitment made about the salaries.

“It is concerning that none of the two officials bothered to respond to the correspondences sent to them,” said Madini.

“Healthcare workers are under tremendous stress fighting the battle against the pandemic and yet the department delays paying their salaries. It is impossible to understand how the department expects the unpaid healthcare workers to sustain their basic needs.”

According to Madini, nonpayment of doctors’ salaries was a regular occurrence – which infringed on their basic rights. In their correspondence with the department, doctors demanded a prompt response, with timelines.

Gauteng health spokesman Kwara Kekana said yesterday the department was in the process of resolving the issue after it managed to secure funds.

It’s concerning that none of the officials bothered to respond.

Simon Madini

SA Medical Association Trade Union