Cancer activists drag Gauteng Department of Health to court for failure to provide life-saving treatment.

Listen to this article 10 min Listen to this article 10 min "The unfortunate part is that cancer patients can't afford any more delays because any delay results in a death. I had a cancer recurrence because I could not get radiation treatment on time. Others don't get that opportunity to beat cancer twice -- they die. In this very month of November last year, I lost a dear friend who was in the same boat as 3,000 cancer patients awaiting radiation treatment and/or surgery."

These were the words of Lydia Staats, a two-time breast cancer survivor, speaking to Daily Maverick after a pivotal court appearance last week Thursday, 21 November 2024, in a case where SECTION27, representing the Cancer Alliance, is challenging the Gauteng Department of Health and nine others for failing to utilise the R784-million allocated to address radiation and surgical backlogs in the province.

SECTION27 is arguing four main points:

For the court to declare the Gauteng Department of Health's lack of action in using the funds set for cancer treatment for that cause unlawful and unconstitutional.Direct department to take necessary steps to ensure waiting patients get the urgent treatment they need, whether through the private...