TimesLive reports that doctors are furious with Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi for blaming them for being without jobs and saying doctors “can't claim to be unemployed”.  

On Thursday he held a press conference to correct media reports about what he called “so-called lists” of unemployed doctors who cannot find community service‚ internship and job posts.  He said there were 147 vacancies in the state sector for newly qualified doctors who could not find work and that “the 135 doctors quoted in the media who are said to be without jobs may contact us because we don't know them… It is up to them to choose from amongst these [posts] but they can't claim to be unemployed.”  In the minister’s view, unplaced doctors preferred not to accept employment.  Speaking for the SA Medical Association (Sama), Mark Sonderup said:  “Sama is deeply disappointed with the minister’s response and his comments in general are an affront to all doctors.”  One doctor called the minister's comments “blatant lies” as he had called health spokesman Joe Maila for the list of the 147 jobs and the latter had been unable to provide it.

• Read this report by Katharine Child in full at TimesLive

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