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HomeNews UpdateSAMA chair Dr Angelique Coetzee resigns

SAMA chair Dr Angelique Coetzee resigns

Dr Angelique Coetzee, the chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) board, has stepped down from the position with immediate effect.

Previously, the SAMA board had issued a statement saying that after “considerable deliberation” it had accepted chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee’s apology for “hurt” caused by her remarks over medical schools admission policies on a radio talk show.

“During the interview [on CapeTalk], Dr Coetzee expressed personal opinions that the admission processes to medical schools were highly politicised, that race played a significant role in determining acceptance to medical faculties, in many instances more than the applicant's matric performance and that different criteria exist for different race groups with regard to admission requirements.”

On Friday, (18 February) SAMA announced that Coetzee had resigned during its board meeting on Thursday night. She will remain an ordinary member of the SAMA board.

“The current vice-chairperson, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, will assume the role of interim chairperson while the board contemplates Dr Coetzee’s permanent replacement,” SAMA said. Dr Edward Ngwenya, chairperson of SAMA’s chairperson’s forum, will assume the role of interim vice-chairperson, reports The Citizen.

“The association appreciates the painful history of South Africa, and therefore empathises with the hurt and anger the unfortunate remarks by Dr Coetzee may have caused to doctors and the general population in the country. “SAMA moreover, distances itself from the statement made by Dr Coetzee as it does not represent the ethos of the association and the democratic principles it stands for,” SAMA said in a statement at the time.

 

The Citizen article – Former Sama board chair Dr Angelique Coetzee resigns (Open access)

 

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Secret KPMG report finds irregularities at UKZN med school

 

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Opportunism and crude populism lie behind claims of racism at Wits — Habib

 

 

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