Fed-up unemployed Eastern Cape doctors and pharmacists are threatening to occupy the department's offices in East London, where they protested on Friday afternoon.
They told News24 they had all completed their community service training, and had been promised jobs earlier this year, but at least 100 doctors are still unemployed.
Dr Mava Mazeka, who graduated from Walter Sisulu University in 2020, said: “We have been out of work since the end of December after finishing our community service.
“After realising there are no jobs for us, we went to the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier in February and handed over a memorandum …and were promised employment, but nothing has happened.”
In March, 138 posts for doctors and dentists were advertised but he said fewer than 100 people have been hired.
“The MEC for Health (Nomakhosazana Meth) told Umhlobo Wenene FM that no post-community service doctors are unemployed in the Eastern Cape, but that is not true.
“I have worked at Nelson Mandela Academic, Madzikane Ka Zulu, Butterworth and St Patrick hospitals – all of them have a shortage of doctors.”
Pharmacist Lonwabo Sityebi, who graduated from Wits University, said she did her community service work at Nessie Knight Hospital in Qumbu.
“There are healthcare centres I know that are only operating with pharmacist assistants,” she said.
Pharmacist Nomathamsanqa Tokwe graduated from the University of the Western Cape, and did her community service at Cala Hospital, where she said there were only two pharmacists.
Protesters were addressed by the provincial Health Department’s chief financial officer, Msulwa Daca, who said “the department has been allocated money”.
“The department has started with the recruitment process. Some post-community service workers have already been permanently employed but in some instances there have been delays. The funds for the posts are still available but the issue is to identify the posts.”
The protesters say they will intensify their demonstration until posts are advertised.
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Only 270 out of 800 unemployed doctors placed
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