The Gauteng Health Department has today rolled out the fourth edition of its Mandela Month Surgical Marathon. The department says 19 public healthcare facilities across the province have pledged to perform more than 1,000 surgeries and clinical procedures in honour of Nelson Mandela International Day.
According to department spokesperson Steve Mabona, the initiative forms part of its ongoing efforts to reduce surgical waiting lists, improve access to care, and restore the dignity of patients awaiting procedures at Gauteng’s public hospitals.
“With a total pledge of 1,078 surgeries and clinical procedures, the department aims to surpass the 806 procedures performed during the 2025 Mandela Month Surgical Marathon. This demonstrates continued progress in strengthening surgical services and expanding access to timely care.
“The Surgical Marathon supports the department’s broader Treatment Time Guarantees (TTG) Programme, which seeks to improve patient flow, optimise theatre utilisation, and ensure that patients requiring surgery receive timely and appropriate care,” said Mabona.
Mabona added that the 19 facilities would dedicate theatre time throughout July to reduce waiting lists and improve access to specialist surgical services. “More than 20 surgical and clinical disciplines will participate in this year’s programme, including ophthalmology, orthopaedics, general surgery, urology, paediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, ear, nose and throat surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, breast surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and oncology services.
“The procedures planned for this year’s Surgical Marathon range from cataract surgeries, hip and knee replacements, and hernia repairs to more specialised interventions such as cochlear implants, penile prosthetic implants, paediatric reconstructive surgery, and cardiac procedures,” explained Mabona.
