South Africa’s healthcare system is once again under the spotlight — but not for the right reasons.
With thousands of trained nurses sitting at home jobless, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) is sounding the alarm over what they call a dangerously inadequate response from the government.
At the center of the uproar? The government’s decision to greenlight only 200 new nursing posts for 2025, despite the glaring shortage of medical staff across the country.
Health Minister’s Announcement Leaves Nurses Frustrated
During a media briefing in Centurion on April 10, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi laid out the latest staffing numbers approved by the National Health Council.
The breakdown included:
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1,200 new posts for doctors
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250 posts for other healthcare professionals
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Just 200 posts for nurses
For DENOSA, those figures were far from reassuring.
The union said that while the additional positions for doctors are important, the number of new nurse posts simply doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground.
Over 20,000 Qualified Nurses Still Without Jobs
According to DENOSA’s Secretary General Kwena Manamela, the government is missing the mark.
He pointed out that more than 20,000 qualified nurses are still unemployed, and that number hasn’t budged — even as clinics and hospitals struggle under the weight of understaffing.
“We’ve seen the toll the COVID-19 pandemic took on our workforce,” Manamela said.
“Some of our colleagues died, and yet they were never replaced. That’s made the staffing crisis even worse.”
Burnout, Backlogs, and Long Waits for Patients
The consequences of the shortage are being felt by both healthcare workers and patients.
With fewer hands on deck, nurses are juggling overwhelming workloads, which is leading to widespread burnout and mental health challenges.
Meanwhile, in public hospitals and clinics, long queues have become the norm, with patients often forced to wait hours — sometimes an entire day — just to receive care.
Budget Constraints or Misplaced Priorities?
One of the key issues that DENOSA is questioning is how the government determined the recruitment numbers.
While Minister Motsoaledi pointed to budget limitations as the reason behind the low nurse intake, DENOSA wants more transparency.
“We understand that other healthcare roles need to be filled,” Manamela said, “but what method are they using to decide these numbers? We don’t believe this approach is working.”
DENOSA Calls for Leadership That Delivers Action
It’s not just about numbers, according to DENOSA.
The union is calling for decisive, compassionate leadership that actually gets things done — especially when lives are on the line.
“South Africa’s healthcare system is in crisis,” Manamela warned.
“We need bold leadership that is willing to make difficult decisions — not just talk. Action must follow the promises.”
A Way Forward? DENOSA Offers Solutions
While DENOSA continues to push back against the limited recruitment, they’ve also suggested several steps that could help fix the situation.
These include investing more in nurse training, hiring from the pool of already-qualified nurses, and ensuring proper support for those already in the field to prevent burnout.
They’re also encouraging public engagement — asking South Africans to voice their opinions and demand better healthcare staffing from their government.
What Do You Think About the Nurse Shortage?
Is the government doing enough to fix the staffing crisis in our hospitals? Should more nurses be hired immediately?