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IOL News
08-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Medical schemes racially targeted black healthcare providers
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi received the final report from the Section 59 Investigation Panel on Monday. Image: Siyabulela Duda| GCIS A PANEL established to probe allegations of racial discrimination by medical schemes has detailed how black healthcare providers were unfairly targeted by having their claims withheld based on race and ethnicity. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi received the final report from the Section 59 Investigation Panel on Monday. The inquiry stems from public allegations made in May 2019 by members of the National Health Care Professionals Association (NHCPA) and Solutionist Thinkers, who alleged that medical schemes and administrators were unfairly withholding their claims based on race and ethnicity. An independent investigation panel, known as the Section 59 Inquiry and comprising Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC (Chairperson), Advocate Adila Hassim, and Advocate Kerry Williams, probed the allegations, to identify trends and make recommendations that may require legal or policy interventions. The main focus of the investigation was on fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) and FWA systems, which refers to the systems used by the medical aid schemes and administrators to detect, investigate and determine providers who engage in FWA. This investigation sought to determine if there is a systemic flaw in the Schemes and Administrators FWA systems, particularly the part of the system which claws back monies for providers where the schemes have suffered loss. According to the report, the written submissions alleged that the schemes were intimidated and bullied providers through the implementation of their FWA systems, including by refusing to reimburse providers directly. The schemes were alleged to be treating providers unfairly and in particular were alleged to be targeting black providers. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'The Schemes' FWA systems all made use of software or algorithms that were designed to flag providers who were suspected of engaging in FWA. The FWA systems also all made use of other investigative techniques – staff within the Schemes would receive the details regarding providers who were flagged as engaging in suspicious FWA behaviour and thereafter would engage with these providers, often requesting additional information from the providers to test if they were correctly flagged. None of the Schemes relied entirely on their software or algorithms to determine if a provider was guilty of FWA.' A statistical analysis on the data found that across the board (regardless of the Scheme or Administrator involved; and generally in relation to almost all of the health care disciplines), black providers were much more likely than non-black providers to have been found guilty of FWA by the Schemes and Administrators concerned. This greater likelihood was measured in what has become known as a 'risk ratio'. 'The FWA system produces disparate outcomes based on race – demonstrates that there are probably errors in the FWA systems which must be corrected. For GEMS, black dental therapists in 2014 experienced risk ratios of between 2.7 and 3.27 – i.e. were generally approximately three times (300% more) more likely than non-black dental therapists to be guilty of FWA. For Discovery, black psychiatrists in 2017 experienced risk ratios of between 3.44 to 3.77 – i.e. black psychiatrists were generally approximately three and a half times (350% more) more likely than non-black psychiatrists to be guilty of FWA. For Medscheme, black anaesthetists in 2018 experienced risk ratios of between 6.39 and 6.78 – i.e. black anaesthetists were generally approximately six and a half times (650% more) more likely than non-black anaesthetists to be guilty of FWA. 'Much of the evidence placed before the Panel suggested that there may be systemic unfair discrimination in the implementation of the FWA systems by the Schemes. Systemic discrimination is an issue which has not been extensively addressed by our courts or administrative bodies.' The Panel recommended that there be full algorithmic transparency. 'We explained that the full workings of the algorithm should be visible, transparent and accessible to both the people who use algorithms but also to the people who are affected by the algorithmic systems. Specifically, it is necessary that the inputs into, and construction of, the algorithm should be known.'
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni: China has better technology than capability of Starlink
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says no company will be given preferential treatment when South Africa rolls out low orbit satellites. Image: Siyabulela Duda/GCIS Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has dismissed widespread allegations that South Africa has given preferential treatment to Elon Musk's Starlink, in an effort to ease tensions with the United States. Earlier on Monday, IOL reported that EFF leader Julius Malema gave the proposed policy the proverbial middle finger to the proposed policy as he reiterated his party's stance on the easing of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for satellite licences to allow Starlink to operate in South Africa. Speaking to supporters in Koppies, Free State, ahead of next week's by-election, Malema criticised the government's draft policy, which would ease B-BBEE rules for multinational companies. He said the move came shortly after remarks were made in the White House about Starlink being blocked from entering the South African market. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has summoned Minister Solly Malatsi and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to brief Parliament on the newly issued policy directives aimed at easing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for licensing satellite services, including Elon Musk's Starlink. IOL reported that the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, chaired by Khusela Diko, has invited Minister Solly Malatsi and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to appear before the committee and brief on the recently gazetted policy directions. Diko noted that the recently 'gazetted policy directions appear to be in contravention of the Electronic Communications Act and in favour of low earth orbit satellite provider SpaceX'. The policy directives were published just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation met with US President Donald Trump and his close adviser, Elon Musk, at the White House last week. Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said all multinational companies who venture into South Africa have to comply with the country's laws - without exceptions. 'I do not know where you get it, but I have said to you there was no discussion of Starlink, both at the Oval Office which was a very public meeting and also during the lunch that we have had. So I do not know where you get this notion that Starlink will come. 'If South Africa wants to introduce low orbit satellites into space, every other player will be allowed to come, but they must play within the rules of this country. The rules of this country require transformation clauses as things stand. Anybody will come through the rules of this country, which are governed by our laws. 'I do not know why you want to go to a special treatment of Starlink and not consider the Chinese. The Chinese have better technology that exceeds the capability of what Starlink does. I am sure your desk that deals with technology will clarify that. Other countries have better low orbit satellites that will come in. Do we want to get into low orbit satellites as South Africa, yes, we want to. Are we rolling a red carpet for one company, no, we are not rolling a red carpet for one company,' she emphasised. Musk has previously expressed opposition to the country's B-BBEE regulations and claimed that the only reason his company had not been granted an operating licence in South Africa was because he was not black. The proposal to ease B-BBEE requirements has been met with criticism from several opposition parties, including Build One South Africa (BOSA). 'This is not transformation, it's capitulation. The message being sent is that if you are a powerful foreign billionaire, you can sidestep South Africa's laws while our local businesses are forced to jump hoops,' said BOSA deputy leader Hlazo Webster. 'What begins as a special concession ends in state capture,' she added. IOL News
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Long road ahead to create a professional SAPS
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs the media on Cabinet's approval of the draft National Policing Plan at a media briefing held in Pretoria on Wednesday May 15, 2025. Image: Siyabulela Duda/GCIS Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu On Wednesday 14 May 2025, the Cabinet approved the Draft National Policing Plan (NPP). This policy aims to create professional and quality policing, provide efficient and effective policing service delivery, improve legitimacy and trust between communities and the police, and build a strong and ethical leadership, management and governance infrastructure architecture within the SAPS. Certainly, the policy is hailed by some but will be questioned by others – especially those who have seen other good policies failing to produce the intended results due to a plethora of reasons. Addressing the media soon after the approval of this Plan, the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that the newly approved Plan outlines the government's plans to address shortcomings in the mandate of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat crime as a response to previous failures. The motivating factor behind the drafting and subsequent adoption of the NPP is to address issues such as the small number of police stations across the country which makes it difficult for the SAPS to serve the South African public. The second factor is the capacity issue. It was felt that the SAPS needed serious capacitation if it were to execute its mandate well. The third and most important issue which necessitated the drafting of the NPP was crime. Both national and provincial police officials constantly present shocking crime statistics. The impact of crime cuts across various spheres of life. These include but are not limited to the tourism sector, investment and economic growth, and South Africa's public and global image. Presenting its 2023/2024 study report, the UN Office for Drugs and Crime placed South Africa's murder rate at 45 per 100,000. This saw South Africa being ranked the second highest globally when compared to other countries that make their crime statistics available for the public to see. While it is true that these figures fluctuate from one reporting period to another, they are a cause for concern. Given these issues, it was justifiable to craft and adopt this Draft NPP as the first step towards addressing the challenges enumerated above. There is still a long way to go in dealing with these issues even after the final NPP has been adopted by both the Cabinet and later by parliament. There are specific issues which have the potential to derail any plans to improve the operation of SAPS. One of them is corruption among law enforcement agencies – including SAPS members and the entire justice system. If officials at different levels within the justice system continue to take bribes from criminal suspects, no initiative – not even the NPP – can change the current situation facing the SAPS and the entire justice system. Another important factor could be the austerity measures imposed by national government. In each budget speech, the nation is constantly asked to brace itself for the turbulent. The same applies to different government departments – including the SAPS. Therefore, passing the NPP without an accompanying budget would be a futile exercise. Any plan to increase the number of police stations would be scuttled if there is insufficient or no budget made available to achieve that goal. Even maintaining some of the already existing police stations is currently a challenge. Even if the number of police stations were to be increased, they would still need well-trained and capacitated police officers. Without sufficient funds, this would be difficult to achieve at best or impossible. With regards to crime, which was identified as the third important driving factor for the drafting of the NPP, the situation gets even worse. There are various reasons for that. The first reason is that the same police officers who are supposed to root out crime are also directly involved in the same practice. Every year, no less than 5,500 cases of police criminal offences are reported. This makes a mockery of the entire process of crafting the NPP. According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), of the 5,500 cases, more than 3,500 of them are for police torture and assault. This points to another problem – lack of proper training. In a worst-case scenario, this could be a deliberate decision by some police officers to disobey the law they already know. In that case, even proper training would not solve the problem. Building trust between the police and communities is not something that can be achieved overnight. There is a trust deficit between the two parties. Reports of women who are raped at police stations after going there to open cases do not give hope. The cases of witnesses and whistleblowers who are killed by the perpetrators after the police have leaked information about their identities dampen the spirit and discourage others from coming forward with information.
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA could be aiding corruption accused Number One in GNU
President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the ANC corruption accused Number One when he became its president. C it be said that has since changed since he took office, asks the writer. Image: Siyabulela Duda/GCIS PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa won himself huge applause when he declared the ANC, the party he leads, corruption accused Number One. That admission set the expectation, and rightly so, that arrests were to follow as lady justice would sweep across, both in and outside the ANC. What elevated this excitement was when the ANC hyped the so-called renewal project and started enforcing the step aside rule. The step-aside rule meant criminally-charged party members were to voluntarily excuse themselves from whatever position they held to clear their names before resuming their responsibilities. From the face of it, it appeared the fight against corruption, especially within the ANC ranks was finally taking shape. Ace Magashule et al were the first to feel the impact of the step-aside rule. Since then, it soon became evident that some of these measures were nothing but factional. The promised fight against corruption started to fade. It was once again one corruption scandal after the other. From PPE corruption at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to the money meant for KwaZulu-Natal flood victims finding itself in the wrong hands.
