The Gauteng Department of Health maintains that the claims made by DA’s Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom regarding cardiac surgery services at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital are misleading and unverified.

Bloom held a media briefing on March 31 outside the hospital, calling for an urgent independent commission of inquiry into patients allegedly dying due to poor surgical outcomes in the cardiothoracic department.

According to an internal memo between the Gauteng legislature and Bloom, which the publication has seen, Bloom asked what the mortality and morbidity figures were for 2025 and how they compared with previous years.

Read more: Gauteng department of health denies allegations about Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital’s cardiology department

The department’s response stated:

• 38.8% reduction in mortality from 2023 to 2024
• 55.1% further reduction from 2024 to 2025
• Overall 72.5% decrease in mortality between 2023 and 2025

“This demonstrates a substantial improvement in patient outcomes,” the department said.

Bloom claimed this was a deliberately misleading reply.

“The official response claims a 72.5% decrease in mortality between 2023 and 2025, asserting a ‘substantial and sustained improvement in patient outcomes’, and concludes there was ‘no evidence of systemic failure or elevated risk that would necessitate a formal commission of inquiry’,” said Bloom.

He added that he had written to the Health MEC to disclose the real fatality rate and referred the matter to the Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, for urgent investigation.

Department defends data

In a media release on April 1, the Department of Health challenged Bloom’s remarks.

“Clinical outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery, including mortality rates, are evaluated using internationally accepted methods that consider patient complexity, comorbidities, and procedural risk.”

The release noted that any interpretation of data that omits these factors is flawed and risks misleading the public.

Bloom disagreed, alleging a cover-up by the hospital and Wits Medical School, whose registrars work at the facility.

Also read: Gauteng shadow health MEC climbs into Charlotte Maxeke Academic Johannesburg Hospital for alleged high death rate in cardiothoracic department

“According to my sources, the actual heart surgery mortality rate at Charlotte Maxeke is approximately 20%, which is a catastrophic failure. Overseas, mortality rates exceeding 2-3% would immediately trigger a formal inquiry,” he said.

The department countered that the 20% claim was not backed by verified, risk-adjusted data.

“For accuracy and integrity, any statements about clinical performance must be supported by verifiable data, including transparent methodology, proper benchmarking, and risk-adjusted analysis. Contrary to the assertions, there is no evidence to support claims of a lack of transparency or a ‘cover-up’,” it said.

Concerns raised by Wits

Bloom claimed a senior surgeon had complained about issues in the cardiothoracic department. When he asked the legislature about this, the reply was:

“No formal complaints were submitted by staff members. However, the hospital is aware of concerns raised by the vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand.”

Also read: Gauteng Health moves to calm fears as Charlotte Maxeke patients face lunch shortages

It was noted that:

•  The faculty of health sciences has become involved, due to the matter affecting both registrars and joint staff.
•  It was reported that the department is experiencing significant dysfunction as a result of a breakdown in relationships among several staff members, including registrars.
•  The vice-chancellor expressed concern that this situation may have implications for patient care, surgical service delivery, theatre safety, and the broader clinical training platform.

Ongoing oversight

The Department of Health reiterated that clinical performance at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital is subject to ongoing review through governance, audit, and oversight processes designed to ensure accountability and patient safety.

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