Cancer advocate slams Gauteng Health Department for 'negligence'

The Gauteng government is facing renewed criticism over its alleged failure to provide adequate cancer treatment to patients, following the death of patient advocate Thato Moncho.

Moncho spent years speaking out about systemic failures in the province’s public health system while fighting for access to life-saving care.

She was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 2020 and began treatment at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, but delays and disruptions prevented her from receiving radiation therapy.

Fellow activist Salome Meyer says the fight isn't only Moncho's.

"It is about a number of people who have been refused treatment, who have been ignored, who are still waiting to hear from the Department of Health."

Meyer explains how, despite funding being ringfenced to provide radiation services, capacity issues and Department failures left thousands of patients waiting.

"It's bureaucracy, it's ineptness, and there's no willingness to attend to it. This problem was made known to the authorities in 2018, yet nothing was done."

Moreover, says Meyer, the CEO of Charlotte Maxeke Hospital was made aware of the problems related to equipment and staffing.

"Yet she has done nothing. In fact, she turned down the equipment. And the same equipment that was then bought [for other hospitals] is now in storage."

"It's negligence," says Meyer.

To listen to Meyer in conversation with 702, use the audio player below: