Putting a price on health — five key takeaways from Minister Motsoaledi's budget vote address
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi tabled the 2025/26 health budget vote in Parliament on Wednesday, 9 July, laying out the spending priorities for the current financial year.
His speech centred around strengthening infrastructure, reversing the impacts of yearslong austerity measures, and addressing the withdrawal of US aid funding for South African health programmes.
Wednesday's proceedings followed a tumultuous 2025 Budget process, which saw Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget speech delayed twice and only finalised on 21 May.
'This [health] budget is being presented at a very challenging time in the history of our country, including geopolitical events of recent days,' said Motsoaledi. 'However, I must assert that challenging as the moment is, there is a lot we should be excited about.'
A National Department of Health budget of R64.8-billion was presented to the National Assembly for consideration.
Below are five key takeaways from Motsoaledi's address.
1. Strengthening infrastructure
Motsoaledi spent a significant portion of his 15-minute time allocation on infrastructure, saying it was 'one of the biggest problems that the public health system encountered'.
He referenced the health ombud investigation into allegations of poor management at Helen Joseph Tertiary Hospital in Gauteng, which found problems with infrastructure and human resources at the facility.
He noted that South Africa's eleventh academic hospital, the Limpopo Central Hospital, was under construction in Limpopo and was 26% complete.
Other hospitals under construction are:
Siloam District Hospital in Vhembe, Limpopo — 90% complete;
Dihlabeng Regional Hospital in the Free State — 30% complete;
Bambisana District Hospital in the Eastern Cape — 82% complete;
Zithulele District Hospital in the Eastern Cape — 50% complete; and
Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital in North West.
'In addition to the hospitals currently under construction, the National Department of Health has prioritised several key hospital projects placed strategically to strengthen South Africa's public health hospital network, particularly in high-demand areas in Gauteng, but also in underserved areas,' said Motsoaledi.
'These include 17 major hospital projects which have been identified for development. They are in various stages of design and development.'
While the budget didn't necessarily cover all the funding needed for the department's 'massive infrastructure injection', Motsoaledi said officials were also speaking to international and local financial institutions about financing options.
2. Reinforcing HIV/AIDS, TB programmes
The loss of US foreign development assistance, particularly funds provided for HIV programmes through the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), has been a major concern in the health sector over the past few months. Experts and activists have called on Motsoaledi and the National Department of Health to develop an emergency funding plan to prevent a loss of ground in the fight against HIV/Aids.
'In the aftermath of the withdrawal of Pepfar, we presented our plans to National Treasury and asked for help. At the same time, we approached other funders, both domestic and globally,' said Motsoaledi.
He said the National Treasury had 'come to the party' by allocating R753.5-million. These funds will be used to provide:
R590-million for provincial departments of health;
R32-million for the National Department of Health; and
R132-million for the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to support health researchers around the country.
The R132-million allocation for the SAMRC is part of a R400-million budget the Treasury has designated for health research over the next three years.
Motsoaledi said the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust had each pledged an additional R100-million to South Africa.
'This means we are going to have a total of R600-million offered to researchers, despite Pepfar having pulled the plug on their work,' said Motsoaledi.
'These amounts are intended to cover the most urgent needs, and further allocations may be considered later.'
3. Reversing austerity measures
On top of the R64.8-billion budget allocation for health, the National Treasury had earmarked an additional R6.7-billion to 'reverse years of austerity measures which have crippled the public health system', said Motsoaledi.
The National Health Council (NHC), made up of Motsoaledi, Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, provincial health MECs and representatives of the South African Local Government Association and the military, has elected to use the additional funds to:
Hire 1,200 doctors, 200 nurses and 250 other health professionals at a cost of R1.7-billion;
Acquire 1.4-million articles for public hospitals, including beds, mattresses, bassinets and new hospital linen at a cost of R1.3-billion;
Permanently employ 27,000 community health workers who have been in the system for close to two decades, but were supported through NGOs, at a cost of R1.4-billion; and
Start paying accruals that have accumulated over the years in oxygen supply, blood and blood products, laboratory services, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
The NHC originally announced its intention to fund an additional 1,650 public sector health worker posts in April.
4. Reaffirming commitment to NHI
In their presentations before the National Assembly, both Motsoaledi and Phaahla reaffirmed the National Department of Health's commitment to implementing the National Health Insurance Act.
Motsoaledi said one of the main objectives in the health budget was 'to lay a strong foundation in preparation for improvement of the public health system of our country, in preparation for the National Health Insurance (NHI). There are people who believe that we have no plans, nor inclination to do that. We want them to listen very attentively today.'
Phaahla said the department was well on the way to implementing the NHI Act, 'despite the court challenges by those opposed to equity and transformation. When this Act is fully implemented, the aspirations of a preventative health scheme run by the state and free medical care at the point of service, as espoused in the Freedom Charter, will be realised in full.'
There are currently six legal challenges to the NHI Act.
5. Parties push back
While the ANC expressed its support for Motsoaledi's health budget vote, not all parties were satisfied with the minister's priorities. Key among those raising objections were the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party and the DA.
Moshome Motubatse, an MK party MP, said the party opposed the health budget vote.
'This budget fails to provide meaningful healthcare for the people of South Africa,' said Motubatse, noting that the allocation for the 2025/26 financial year was increasing by only 1% when accounting for inflation.
'It represents a cut in real terms, even as the demand [on health] continues to grow.'
Dr Karl du Pré le Roux, a former rural doctor, spoke for the DA, the ANC's largest partner in the Government of National Unity. He said that while there was much justified criticism of the inequity between the public and private health systems in South Africa, there were also large disparities in the resourcing of different areas within the public health system.
He said managerial incompetence, poor leadership and corruption were among the largest problems facing the public health sector. Du Pré le Roux added that NHI was not the best way to achieve universal healthcare in the country.
'Though your aims are noble, most academics, analysts and ordinary South Africans recognise that the implementation of the NHI legislation by a government health system that is riddled with incompetence, mismanagement and corruption at every level, will be a complete disaster,' said Du Pré le Roux. DM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
SA teen pregnancy crisis: 90 000 pregnancies recorded in 2024
Of 90 000 pregnancies recorded in girls aged 10 to 19, more than 2 300 were among girls aged between 10 and 14. These numbers speak not only of a health crisis, but also a grave injustice against children forced to become mothers, stakeholders said at a meeting this week. Teenage pregnancies 'robbing girls of their future' Steve Letsike, Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, warns that these numbers poses a threat to South Africans. Letsike said the scourge of teenage pregnancy is not only a health concern but a threat to the nation's social and moral fibre and future prosperity. 'Teenage pregnancy is robbing too many of our girls of their childhood and their future, and it will take all of us working together to turn the tide,' Letsike said at a stakeholder engagement in Pretoria recently aimed at addressing the persistent ongoing scourge of teenage pregnancy. Not only a statistic but also a crime He said 2 328 girls younger between 10 and 14-years-old recorded pregnancies last year. 'To call this alarming would be an understatement. These are children, some barely in their teens, some not even teenagers, now forced into motherhood,' Letsike said. Letsike said a child as young as 10 becoming pregnant was not just a statistic but evidence of a profound societal failure and a horrific crime because a girl that young cannot legally give consent. 'This crisis threatens the very foundation of our social and economic development as teenage pregnancy poses a serious threat to the health, rights, education and socio-economic well-being of girls. 'When a young girl becomes a mother, her chances of finishing school plummet, her job prospects diminish, and she often becomes trapped in a cycle of poverty. 'In other words, today's teen pregnancy is tomorrow's poverty and inequality. We must recognise this as not only a public health issue but a social justice emergency,' the deputy minister said. Letsike said the high incidence of adolescent pregnancy in the country was interlinked with other scourges of HIV and other STI infection rates, child sexual abuse, statutory rape, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), poverty, educational exclusion, substance abuse and even toxic elements of popular culture. 'To craft effective solutions, we must honestly confront how and why so many young girls are getting pregnant,' Letsike said. Urgent response needed Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli said teenage pregnancy in South Africa has reached deeply concerning levels. 'These are not just numbers; they are a stark reflection of our socio-economic challenges and a call to action. Teenage pregnancy is more than a health crisis,' she said. Mhlauli said the response to teenage pregnancy must be urgent, coordinated and compassionate. 'Government cannot do this work alone. We need the support of all pillars of society, parents, faith leaders, educators, civil society, the media and the private sector,' she said. Pregnancies indicate inability to protect girls Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Board Asanda Luwaca said 'young girls are our sisters, our classmates, our cousins, our peers and children'. 'It is an indictment of our inability, as a collective, to fully protect the bodies, rights and dreams of girls, especially those from poor, rural and marginalised communities, especially differently abled,' she said. Luwaca said teenage pregnancy was not just about health, but injustice. 'It is about gender inequality, poverty, exploitation, broken family systems, absent accountability and a dangerous silence that protects perpetrators more than it protects girls. 'And until we confront these intersecting issues head-on with honesty, bravery and unflinching determination, we will continue to fail the young women of this nation. South Africa has the policies. We have the frameworks. What we need now is unapologetic implementation across every level of society,' Luwaca said. The engagement with stakeholders is part of an initiative to establish a Roadmap to South Africa's Teenage Pregnancy Prevention and Management Response. – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
eNCA
4 hours ago
- eNCA
Call for new HIV\AIDS prevention jab to be accessible to all
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - A new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, is being called a major breakthrough. The WHO has released new guidelines for the twice-yearly injection, said to be 100% effective.
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Trump's chronic venous insufficiency mirrors trend in SA, says doctor
US President Donald Trump's diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency is not unusual and mirrors a growing trend among ageing South Africans, according to a Durban vascular surgeon at Lenmed eThekwini Hospital and Heart Centre. Dr Vinesh Padayachy said the condition, where blood struggles to flow back from the legs to the heart is frequently seen in South African men and women over the age of 70. 'This isn't unique to Trump. We see hundreds of patients a year with the same issue here at home. It's a progressive condition linked to ageing, sedentary lifestyle, weight gain and even genetics. In South Africa, with rising rates of obesity and diabetes, we're seeing more cases, and sometimes at younger ages.' The White House on Thursday announced Trump underwent medical testing after he had been seen with deep bruises on his hand and swollen legs. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. 'The president underwent a comprehensive examination including diagnostic vascular studies, bilateral lower extremity intravenous doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70,' said Leavitt. Doctors ruled out any major concerns such as blood clots or cardiac issues, confirming only venous insufficiency. Padayachy said that was an important distinction. 'The real concern would've been if it was deep vein thrombosis or signs of heart failure. But in this case, the diagnosis is straightforward and treatable.' Symptoms often include swelling, heaviness, fatigue in the legs and, in some cases, visible varicose veins or skin darkening. 'In South Africa, especially in the public sector, many patients ignore the early signs because it seems minor until ulcers or infections develop. By then, treatment becomes more complex,' he said. Padayachy said while photos of swelling may alarm the public, the condition does not indicate failing health. 'At Trump's age, this is expected. It doesn't suggest he's unfit or unwell. If anything, it's a wake-up call for many South Africans to take leg health seriously especially if they sit or stand for long hours without movement.' He noted that truck drivers, teachers, factory workers and office staff are often at risk. Treatment involves compression stockings, elevating the legs, light daily movement and avoiding long periods of sitting or standing. 'Treatment also includes minimally invasive procedures to seal off the vein that is not working. These procedures can be done in a vascular surgeons' rooms as a walk-in, walk-out procedure,' added Padayachy.
