DA’s pressure led to radiographers receiving employment contracts and outstanding salaries

Note to editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Madeleine Hicklin MPL.

Persistent pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng on the Gauteng Department of Health, MEC Faith Mazibuko, and the newly appointed Head of Department, Dr Magome Masike, has finally resulted in diagnostic radiographers at various facilities receiving their signed employment contracts and outstanding salary payments that had remained outstanding since the radiographers accepted their positions in April 2026.

While the DA welcomes the resolution of the matter, we demand that MEC Mazibuko urgently investigate how 20 radiographers were allowed to take up their posts in May and June and start work without contracts. We want to know why they have not been paid, only to receive their pay on 6 November 2026 after we exposed the issue.

The DA has been reliably informed that eight out of the 20 individuals resigned after three months because the department failed to pay them. This exodus led to a critical loss of radiological expertise in Gauteng hospitals, endangering patient safety.

The human cost of this administrative failure has been devastating. At least one radiographer reportedly had her home repossessed and was evicted after falling behind on her bond repayments. Now that she has received her contract and outstanding remuneration, she is attempting to negotiate repayment of the arrears with her bank and secure the return of her home.

The MEC’s failure to address this unfortunate administrative error until the DA stepped in is unacceptable. Workers should not endure months without pay due to administrative lapses. These shortcomings undermine the department’s personnel oversight and its duty to maintain fair labour standards under section 23 of the Constitution.

But the consequences could have extended beyond the affected employees to patients. The DA will therefore submit questions to the department to determine whether any adverse patient outcomes occurred because of the radiographers’ departure or the disruption to diagnostic services, and what measures will be implemented to prevent a recurrence.

A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that administrative failures within the Gauteng Health Department are met with transparency, accountability, and disciplinary action. This commitment would apply to any failure that undermines medical staff rights or diminishes the quality and accessibility of care provided to patients.