Entities go to court to force department to spend R784m to address backlogs.
While millions of rands for cancer treatment pile up, patients in Gauteng are fighting not just their illness but also a broken system.
The Cancer Alliance, represented by advocacy group Section27, has filed an application in the High Court in Johannesburg against the Gauteng health department for its alleged failure to spend R784 million allocated by the Gauteng Treasury in 2023 to address the radiation backlog and other surgical backlogs in the province.
The alliance says that for Gauteng's cancer patients, the promise of life-saving treatment has turned into a gruelling wait.
Earlier in April, the alliance, with Section27, the Treatment Action Campaign, and patients waiting for cancer treatment, marched to the department's offices demanding that it use the R784 million allocated for cancer treatment.
Lydia Staats from Springs was among the crowd. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2022 and has since had one recurrence. She has waited for 18 months to get radiation oncology treatment.
This story is from the July 22, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 22, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CHIEFS' BIG TALENT
The new Amakhosi head coach is showing a willingness to start trusting in younger players.
Arsenal retain hunger
Mikel Arteta saluted Arsenal's hunger as the gritty Gunners ignored the absence of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to clinch an \"ugly\" 1-0 win at bitter rivals Tottenham yesterday.
Piastri claims a tense Baku win
Oscar Piastri claimed an impressive second victory of his burgeoning career yesterday when he drove his McLaren to a well-judged triumph ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in a tense Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
No room for relaxing
Manqoba Mngqithi has issued a friendly warning to his dazzling array of Mamelodi Sundowns superstars that complacency will not be tolerated this season.
Austerity is wrong route
Belt-tightening means choosing not to invest in SA citizens.
Clear case for nuclear
Scientists, not lobbyists, must lead the conversation’.
This is how your interest rate is calculated
Economists expect that the South African Reserve Bank will cut the repo rate on Thursday, giving consumers a little more breathing room when it comes to their finances.
Saving for retirement at 50
South Africans become financially wiser as they get older, says expert.
Exploring the afterlife
The existential question that never bears an answer.
Scramble to help victims of floods
Hundreds killed in wake of Typhoon Yagi.