QUALIFIED doctors in KZN are increasingly confronted by the reality of unemployment in the public sector.

One doctor in the middle of the conundrum is Dr Raeesa Kathrada from North Beach. She reckons the reality of the situation is contradictory, as there is evidence of a dire shortage of doctors and a lack of vacancies.

The KZN Unemployed Doctors Association member is saddened by the overproduction of doctors aspiring to enter the field under the false pretext that medicine is a glorious career. “The number of doctors sitting at home is rocketing.

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“We are spiraling into depression, stripped of our dignity. After completing our degrees, internship and community service, and now sitting idle at home, is a heavy burden to bear,” she said. She added that their lives are literally delayed, as some of them barely sustain themselves via irregular locum work.

She has seen firsthand the pressure faced by hospital personnel in public hospitals, including shortage of staff, limited medication and beds, possible cheap labour, and workload.

“The government is holding us hostage, using our allegiance to our own oath we took to preserve lives. Many doctors are thrown into the culture of silence because when others do voice out their grievances, they are labelled as disrespectful. We need to teach the next generation of doctors not to endure unfairness, and advocate for justice.”

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Kathrada highlighted another disturbing truth. “Even after one’s CV looks like an encyclopedia, with added advanced courses, there is no guarantee for placement.” She cited that these courses cost thousands of rands, and time.

KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, during her department’s budget speech in July, said that despite severe financial constraints, the department has invested in its workforce by filling critical vacancies.

“Since October 2025, we have appointed 188 medical officers, 43 medical specialists, 197 professional nurses, 242 staff nurses, 25 pharmacists, and 20 registrars. In the coming weeks, we will advertise a further 39 medical officer posts,” Simelane said.

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The department went on to advertise 50 medical officer positions. The closing date for these applications was at the end of August. “This number is insulting,” Kathrada reckons.

KZN Unemployed Doctors Association projects that at least 7918 applications could be received for the 50 posts, highlighting the depth of the challenge of unemployed doctors.

Kathrada is pleading with the provincial departments of health and treasury to reprioritise the budget to accommodate the absorption of unemployed doctors.

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To alleviate the challenges, Kathrada said the ideal, consistent number of advertised posts annually should be at least 350. She appealed to all relevant stakeholders and influential voices to support the fight for employment.

To sum up the situation, Kathrada shared, “Like a child clawing at her mother’s dress, begging for love and attention, the mother doesn’t care. A painful feeling of abandonment.”

Kathrada said she continues to receive many messages from her distressed colleagues, with many doctors facing suicide.

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