How does the roles of MECs differ from those of heads of departments?
There is often confusion about the differing roles of MECs for Health and heads of provincial departments of health. Tendai Mafuma lays out the differences.
Assessing the Motsoaledi years
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi was South Africa’s Minister of Health from 2009 to 2019. Marcus Low takes a look back at the successes and failures of the Motsoaledi years.
Only 2 of 9 Health MECs in job for more than 2 years
Following South Africa’s 2019 national and provincial elections, new members of provincial legislatures have been sworn in and new provincial executives appointed.
Five health policy priorities for the new administration
In its HIV policies government has mostly done good work over the last decade. In other key areas, important policies were never replaced or never finalised.
#FootSoldiers: The biggest and happiest family In Limpopo
Sally Duigan is never alone, with every move she makes there is a posse of happy, smiling children clinging to her arms, grabbing whatever bit of her clothing is within their reach. Nomatter Ndebele and Thom Pierce went to visit Limpopo’s biggest and happiest family.
Donor shift threatens adherence clubs in the Free State
A shift in donor funding for HIV has endangered the continued existence of successful and effective antiretroviral adherence clubs in the Free State.
#Vote4Health: No road to health in the Northern Cape
By Anso Thom, Marcus Low, Nomatter Ndebele and Thom Pierce (photographs) Calvinia, Sutherland, Fraserburg, De Aar, Keimoes, Kakamas. Join Spotlight on a disturbing road-trip through the Northern Cape public healthcare…
#Vote4Health: Health in the Northern Cape: Disturbing visions from SA’s forgotten province
Health services in large parts of the Northern Cape have virtually collapsed with communities mostly being served by overstretched nurses struggling to cope with the disease and injury burden. The challenges are overwhelming. Spotlight travelled a circular route through the province and clocked up about 2 000 kilometres of mostly dirt and some tar road to take the temperature of South Africa’s largest province.
#Vote4Health: Visuals of Northern Cape collapse
Health services in large parts of the Northern Cape have virtually collapsed with communities mostly being served by overstretched nurses struggling to cope with the disease and injury burden. The…
#People: Face to face with Jack Bloom
When it comes to healthcare, Jack Bloom is arguably the most well-known opposition politician in South Africa. Biénne Huisman went to meet the man behind the headlines.
#Vote4Health: Little accountability as (almost all) Health MECs dodge questions
Missed deadlines, non-communication and excuses sum up the overwhelming “responses” from the country’s nine health MECs when Spotlight asked them to reflect on their time in office and what people can expect from them beyond the elections.
#Vote4Health: Five appointments to watch after May 8
Apart from a potential change in Health Minister, several key other health leadership roles may change after South Africa’s May 8th elections.