Bulelwa Hoala
As of January 2025, around 34 528 patients were on the waiting list for surgery in Gauteng public hospitals.
This is according to a written reply from Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to questions directed to the Gauteng Legislature from Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom.
Bloom reports that the largest waiting list is 6764 patients at the Steve Biko Hospital, followed by the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (6232), George Mukhari Hospital (5354), and 3315 patients at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital.
In a press statement posted on the DA’s website, Bloom said waiting times differ for certain types of surgery.
“It is only one to two months for a cataract removal at Leratong Hospital, but two years at the Mamelodi and Yusuf Dadoo hospitals.
“While patients at Kalafong Hospital wait five years for hip surgery, they will only wait three to six months at the George Mukhari Hospital,” the statement reads.
The MEC reportedly blames the long waiting times on “high turnover of patients to Gauteng province”, and “burden of trauma that take preference over elective cases.”
She also admitted that some cancellations and postponements of surgery were caused by load-shedding and water shortages.
Other hospitals with large waiting lists include:
Sebokeng Hospital – 2870 patients
Helen Joseph Hospital – 2623 patients
Mamelodi Hospital – 2016 patients
Kalafong Hospital – 1861 patients
Tembisa Hospital – 1404 patients
Leratong Hospital – 762 patients
Thelle Mogoerane Hospital – 502 patients
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