Left in Limbo: Over 34,000 Gauteng Patients Still Waiting for Surgery

For thousands of patients across Gauteng, the wait for life-changing surgery feels endless. While some progress has been made in cutting down the time spent in queues, a staggering 34,000 people are still stuck on surgical waiting lists. Behind every number is a person in pain, living with uncertainty and frustration.

A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight

This figure, revealed in a recent written response by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to DA’s Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom, paints a troubling picture of the province’s strained public healthcare system. The data, from the end of January 2025, confirms just how overwhelming the demand for surgery has become in Gauteng’s major public hospitals.

Steve Biko Academic Hospital has the highest number of pending surgeries, with 6,764 patients in line. It’s followed closely by Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (6,232), George Mukhari Hospital (5,354), and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital (3,315).

The backlog doesn’t end there. Hospitals across the province are battling similar bottlenecks:

• Sebokeng Hospital: 2,870 patients

• Helen Joseph Hospital: 2,623

• Mamelodi Hospital: 2,016

• Kalafong Hospital: 1,861

• Tembisa Hospital: 1,404

• Leratong Hospital: 762

• Thelle Mogoerane Hospital: 502

These figures don’t just represent patients—they reflect years of underfunding, staffing shortages, infrastructure failures, and interrupted services.

The Weight of a Growing Burden

The waiting time has dropped in some cases, according to the Health MEC. But the reality on the ground tells a more complicated story.

One of the most in-demand surgeries is cataract removal, with over 9,000 people hoping for clearer vision. Some have been told they could wait anywhere from a month to two years. In the meantime, many are left struggling with blurred sight, missing out on employment opportunities or battling isolation.

Health officials say part of the challenge is the high turnover of patients in Gauteng, as well as the load of trauma cases that take priority over scheduled (elective) surgeries. Emergencies understandably take precedence, but that leaves elective surgeries perpetually delayed.

A System Pushed to the Brink

Jack Bloom estimates the true number of patients waiting for surgery may actually be closer to 40,000 when factoring in all 37 public hospitals in the province. He warns that cuts to hospital budgets and a shortage of medical staff are only deepening the crisis.

To make matters worse, hospitals are routinely hit by rolling blackouts and water shortages. Operations get postponed or canceled entirely—sometimes at the last minute—leaving patients to restart the painful waiting game.

In May 2024, the Gauteng Health Department had claimed progress, saying they had reduced the surgical backlog from 38,000 to 24,000. But those gains have not been sustained. Now, the numbers are climbing again.

Beyond the Numbers: Real People, Real Pain

Behind each statistic is a person living with physical discomfort, emotional strain, and a gnawing sense of being forgotten. Whether it’s a grandmother awaiting cataract surgery to regain her independence, or a young breadwinner waiting for a hernia operation so he can get back to work, these delays affect entire families.

For many, what should be a routine medical procedure becomes a long and demoralizing battle.

The Way Forward

Addressing this crisis will require more than quick fixes. Gauteng’s healthcare system needs strategic investment in both staff and infrastructure. Dedicated surgical blitzes, mobile units, and public-private partnerships could help chip away at the backlog. But more than anything, it requires political will and long-term planning.

Patients can’t keep waiting. Every delay in surgery is a delay in dignity, healing, and hope.

Enough Waiting: It’s Time to Act

If you or someone you love is affected by these surgical delays, share your story. Real voices can bring real change. Pressure your local representatives, support health advocacy groups, and stay informed. South Africa deserves a healthcare system that works—for everyone.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com