08-05-2025
KZN health cuts off some projects to pay R1.7bn for service providers
PIETERMARITZBURG - The KwaZulu-Natal Health Department owes service providers a staggering R1,7 billion.
Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi, says the department is in dire financial straits. And it may be forced to cut some key projects to pay service providers.
The department tried to pay some, spreading out the payments for big service providers with invoices above R500 000 over 60 days - to little avail.
The department's budget has been slashed by R9 billion over the past five years, placing it in a precarious financial situation.
Simelane-Mngadi says they must stop some services to have money to pay service providers and avoid a fiscal crisis.
But this would likely compromise the delivery of health services.
The department sats service providers who were not paid in March are scheduled to be paid on sometime this month.
