‘Not an Excuse’: Lesufi Says Sorry for Gauteng Cancer Treatment Crisis

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has issued a formal apology to cancer patients affected by prolonged delays in radiation treatment across the province’s public hospitals. His remarks come amid intense legal and political pressure following a court order demanding urgent action—an order the government is now appealing.

Thousands of patients remain stuck in limbo, with their access to lifesaving radiation therapy blocked by a legal battle between the Gauteng Department of Health and civil society groups. Despite a court ruling earlier this year compelling the province to deliver services, implementation remains suspended while the government challenges the decision.

Court Order Meant to Save Lives Now on Hold

In January, the Gauteng High Court ordered the provincial government to provide oncology radiation treatment to nearly 3,000 patients who had been waiting—some for as long as three years. The backlog was attributed to understaffing, broken equipment, and poor hospital administration.

Rather than comply, the Gauteng government opted to appeal the judgment, arguing that immediate enforcement could compromise the overall quality of care. The appeal effectively pauses any relief the court sought to guarantee, leaving patients in continued jeopardy.

Lesufi: “We Could Have Done Better”

During a session at the Gauteng legislature on Tuesday, Lesufi offered a public apology to affected patients. “It was not our wish to put them through these difficulties,” he said. He acknowledged government failure to act sooner and said balancing legal processes with healthcare delivery had proven difficult—but admitted that was “not an excuse.”

Lesufi also mentioned receiving a plan from the health department to clear the treatment backlog but did not provide a timeline or further details on how the plan would be implemented.

Opposition Slams Apology as “Too Little, Too Late”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) rejected Lesufi’s remarks, calling the apology insufficient. Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng spokesperson on health, accused the provincial leadership of failing to prevent avoidable deaths. “It’s far too late for hundreds of cancer patients who have died because they didn’t get radiation treatment within the required 90 days,” Bloom said.

He compared the crisis to the Life Esidimeni tragedy, where 144 psychiatric patients died due to government negligence, calling this a “similar disaster in slow motion.”

R720 Million in Health Funds Left Unused

Amid the outrage, the Gauteng Treasury revealed that the provincial health department failed to spend more than R720 million of its allocated budget for 2024/25. Critics say this is unacceptable given the dire need for oncology services and hospital infrastructure improvements.

Bloom said the underspending raises serious questions about leadership priorities and resource management within the department.

While the provincial government awaits the outcome of its appeal, thousands of patients remain without treatment. Advocacy groups and opposition parties continue to push for immediate intervention, warning that further delays will cost more lives.

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Sourced:Central News

Picture: SABC-News-Panyaza-Lesufi-@GautengProvince-1