A group of radiographers stationed at community health centres across Johannesburg are facing financial ruin due to the Gauteng health department's failure to pay them for the past six months. The unpaid radiographers, who were recruited and started working in late 2022 and early 2023, claim they have accumulated debts exceeding R100,000. With car instalments, rent, and other expenses to cover, they are struggling to make ends meet.
Sibusiso, one of the affected radiographers stationed in Westbury, expressed his frustration, stating that he left a previous job to take up the new position, only to find himself in a financially unstable situation. He said he requires at least R20,000 a month to survive, but has been surviving on "God's grace" for the past six months. Sibusiso also revealed that unofficial updates in WhatsApp group chats have warned that if they stop reporting for work, their absence will be treated as unpaid leave.
Gauteng health department spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that 13 radiographers were affected by the non-payment of salaries. However, he did not provide a timeline for when they would receive their salaries, stating only that "payment will be backdated accordingly." Mabona added that the department is fast-tracking the process to resolve the matter, with human resources providing updates to the affected employees.
According to the radiographers, they were told to report for duty at various community health centres after completing formal recruitment, medicals, and appointment procedures. However, management allegedly instructed them to start before the provincial health head of department formally approved their appointments, causing centralised HR to reject their files and block them from the Persal salary system.
Lerato, another radiographer stationed in Roodepoort, echoed Sibusiso's frustrations, stating that she is in a financial crisis and has been living off credit for the past six months. She expressed concern that her credit may not allow her to take out further credit due to the prolonged non-payment of her salary. The radiographers claim that communication from management has been limited to informal WhatsApp messages.
Gauteng DA's health spokesperson Madeleine Hicklin criticised the situation, stating that it is "quite stressful" and unacceptable for qualified healthcare professionals to work without being paid. Hicklin added that management reportedly acknowledges the appointments and outstanding payments but claims the matter is still waiting for the required signature from the head of department. She emphasised that people cannot be expected to work for months without remuneration.
The situation may lead to job losses as radiographers leave the Gauteng Department of Health in search of more secure employment. With Gauteng having the highest unemployment rate in the country, Hicklin stressed that this is something the province can ill afford. The radiographers are demanding immediate payment of their salaries and resolution to the matter.
Key points
- The Gauteng health department has failed to pay 13 radiographers for six months, leaving them with debts exceeding R100,000.
- The radiographers claim that management acknowledged their appointments but failed to process their salaries due to a lack of formal approval from the provincial health head of department.
- The situation has been criticised by the Gauteng DA, who argue that it is unacceptable for healthcare professionals to work without pay and that it may lead to job losses.
