SUBSCRIBE
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

Cancer patients on waiting lists demand treatment

by Masego Mafata
16th December 2021
in Trending
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Cancer

Health activists and cancer patients currently on long waiting lists for treatment march to Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s office, demanding that he address the cancer treatment crisis in the province. Marchers carried white crosses while some carried a coffin to symbolise cancer patients who have died while waiting for treatment. Photos: Masego Mafata/ Ground Up

About 100 health activists and cancer patients currently on waiting lists for treatment marched to Gauteng premier David Makhura’s office in Newtown late November. They are demanding urgent intervention from the government to address the “cancer crisis” in the province. Only two public hospitals offer radiation oncology in the province. An activist says this has resulted in almost 2 000 people waiting for radiotherapy, palliative care and other potentially life-saving therapies.

“Being on the waiting list [for cancer treatment] is very scary. You don’t know if you’re going to die. We are really losing hope,” says Zuziwe Mdlulwa.

Mdlulwa, a two-time breast cancer survivor, joined more than 100 health activists and cancer patients currently on waiting lists for treatment on Tuesday as they marched to Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s office in Newtown. They are demanding urgent intervention from government to address the “cancer crisis” in the province.

Mpho Manyedi from Germiston (wearing a pink mask) says she has been on the waiting list for radiation at Charlotte Maxeke hospital for 16 months. Photos: Masego Mafata/ Ground Up

The march, organised by Cancer Alliance, SECTION27 and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), started at the Library Gardens where the group observed a moment of silence for people who have died while waiting to receive cancer treatment.

Waiting lists and backlogs hamper treatment

In a statement, the organisers said, “Certain cancer patients in the public sector in Gauteng can be forced to wait up to five years for potentially life-saving therapies. Many cancer patients, who cannot afford private sector treatment, are paying with their lives because of government’s delays.”

Salomé Meyer from Cancer Alliance said waiting lists and backlogs preventing access to cancer treatments have been an issue for years. She said backlogs have been incorrectly attributed to Covid and the fire that broke out at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital earlier this year.

“In Gauteng, there are only two public hospitals offering radiation oncology: Steve Biko and Charlotte Maxeke. At Charlotte Maxeke, there are almost 2,000 people on waiting lists for radiotherapy, palliative care and other potentially life-saving therapies,” she said.

Mpho Manyedi from Germiston, who also joined the march, has been on the waiting list for radiation at Charlotte Maxeke hospital for 16 months.

Gauteng health MEC, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi. Photo: Twitter| @DrMokgethi

“When you go to the hospital, they give you panados and tell you that you will be fine. A friend of mine died from cancer last month because of this poor treatment,” said a tearful Manyedi.

Morgan Jordaan was diagnosed with skin cancer on 3 August at a local clinic in Germiston. She said that when she asked for blood tests, scans and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, she was put on a waiting list.

“I was initially told that it is an aggressive skin cancer that can spread to other organs. I wrote a letter to the Presidency and officials in October to complain about the waiting list. Only then was I given an appointment for my scans and tests. The tests revealed that I was misdiagnosed and that my cancer is not as aggressive,” she said. For four months now, Jordaan has been on the waiting list for a mammogram.

Task team needed to address issues

In a memorandum read out by Ouma Mamatela from Cancer Alliance, the group demanded that the provincial government and Health department publicly acknowledge that there is a cancer treatment crisis in Gauteng. They also want the establishment of a task team to advise and oversee the procurement of radiation equipment and services. They want the task team to develop a plan to be implemented no later than World Cancer Day on 4 February 2022. They also called for the provision of symptom management and palliative care to patients who require it while the backlog is addressed.

Gladys Bogoshi, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital’s CEO, was also present when the memorandum was handed over.

Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi received the group’s memorandum on behalf of the premier. She promised they would try to respond by 10 December.

“My heart goes out to patients. As a department, we don’t want to put people on waiting lists forever. We are trying to make sure that we serve our people. We have launched the Soweto Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to improve access to cancer care for the Soweto community and surrounding areas,” she said.

This article was first published by Ground Up.

Listen: ‘Cancer is not the end’

Tags: David MakhuraDepartment of HealthPublic health
Masego Mafata

Masego Mafata

Related Articles

Trending

FS clinic upgrade stalls, forces patients into cramped church

by Tladi Moloi
19th June 2025
Kombucha
My Health

Kombucha: The tangy tea that’s good for your gut

by Candice Khumalo and Vateka Halile
17th June 2025

Stories

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites
Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics
Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy
Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen
No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches
How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth
Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing
Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers
No Result
View All Result

Latest

Meaty bones & dumplings recipe: Comfort food that nourishes
Nutrition

Meaty bones & dumplings recipe: Comfort food that nourishes

by Vateka Halile
24th June 2025

There’s magic in a pot of simmering meaty bones. Rich in collagen, gelatin, and flavour, they support joint and gut...

Read moreDetails
Fathers matter: Shaping lives, not just childhoods

Fathers matter: Shaping lives, not just childhoods

23rd June 2025
UCT

Amputees call for support beyond surgery

20th June 2025

FS clinic upgrade stalls, forces patients into cramped church

19th June 2025
Pineapple tea is Mzansi’s medicine in a mug

Pineapple tea is Mzansi’s medicine in a mug

18th June 2025
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Awards & Impact
Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy
Copyright

Somagwaza

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites

cropped-scott-webb-yekGLpc3vro-unsplash.jpeg

Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics

Dr Sinethemba Makanya

Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy

Meaty bones & dumplings recipe: Comfort food that nourishes

Fathers matter: Shaping lives, not just childhoods

Amputees call for support beyond surgery

FS clinic upgrade stalls, forces patients into cramped church

Pineapple tea is Mzansi’s medicine in a mug

Kombucha: The tangy tea that’s good for your gut

error: Content is protected !!
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers