Unemployed public sector doctors in KZN face a bleak reality despite a dire shortage of personnel and limited government vacancies.

Berea Mail reports that North Beach medical professional Dr Raeesa Kathrada says the situation is contradictory, given the evidence of a severe doctor shortage alongside a lack of posts.

The KZN Unemployed Doctors Association member says she is saddened by the overproduction of doctors who enter the field under the false expectation that medicine is a glorious career.

“The number of doctors sitting at home is rocketing. We are spiralling into depression, stripped of our dignity. After completing our degrees, internship and community service, sitting idle at home is a heavy burden to bear,” she says, adding that their lives are delayed while they barely sustain themselves through irregular locum work.

Kathrada has seen first-hand the pressure faced by public hospital personnel, including staff shortages, limited medication and beds, potential cheap labour and heavy workloads.

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

Kathrada highlights another disturbing reality: “Even after one’s CV looks like an encyclopaedia, with added advanced courses, there is no guarantee for placement.” She says these courses cost thousands of rands and take up considerable time.

A systemic struggle

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.

The department subsequently advertised 50 medical officer positions, which closed at the end of August. Kathrada calls this number ‘insulting’.

The KZN Unemployed Doctors Association projects that at least 7 918 applications could be received for the 50 posts, highlighting the scale of the challenge.

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

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

Summing 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.”

She continues to receive messages from distressed colleagues.

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