Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, has swiftly overruled a directive purporting that the hiring of foreign doctors has been put on hold. She said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the directive, which came in the heat of the xenophobic violence crisis in South Africa, was without authoristion and thus null and void.

The statement, which declared, “we stand with our African brothers and sisters”, reads:

“As the MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, I have directed the acting HOD to withdraw a circular which states that the hiring of foreign doctors has been put on hold.

“The matters raised in the circular were not discussed or agreed upon by the 6th administration, and therefore such a decision is not the official position of the Department of Health.

“My preliminary investigation reveals that during the 2018-2019 financial year, there were discussions taken to bring into stream young unemployed South African doctors.

“As the MEC for Health representing this administration, I want to state categorically that there is no banning or suspension of the recruitment of foreign doctors. The circular should therefore be regarded as null and void, as it has not been processed through the MEC and the provincial executive. We deeply regret the confusion that has arisen, and the impression created by the dissemination of this outdated circular with outdated decisions.

“We value the contribution that all our local and foreign doctors make in building a healthy and productive KwaZulu-Natal.

“In light of what has been happening in South Africa, we stand with our African brothers and sisters, and support Government’s efforts to deal with the situation.”