Daily Maverick reports that the National Department of Health (DoH) says all South African medical graduates have been placed in internship posts following national attention having been drawn to their plight in a social media campaign at the end of November.  

But graduates themselves – including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and those in other fields – say the problem is far from solved and placements are still hanging in the balance for hundreds who are due to start work on 1 January 2018.  Some claim the placements that have been made have not been finalised, as they were confirmed so late it was not clear whether all graduates would be able to accept them.  Yet, a DoH spokesperson maintained:  “All South African-born medical interns and community service have been placed.  At the moment, the department is considering the appeals of a few who are not happy with the location of their placement.”  Given the shortage of posts, South African-born graduates are given posts first, then permanent residents, then foreign nationals, which means there are many graduates still facing a very long wait.  One foreign-born graduate, who has permanent resident status, commented:  “We are just so confused.  We just need answers.  I can wait.  The latest communication we got was today – saying [the DoH] was still trying to finalise posts for South African citizens and they have no idea when they will get to permanent residents and they have not yet got to foreign nationals.”

• Read this report by Marelise van der Merwe in full at Daily Maverick

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