“Wait, What?”: Mzansi Outraged As Doctor Calls Out Limpopo Dept of Health’s Job Post Over R0 Salary
- The Limpopo Department of Health advertised 40 medical registrar contract positions, listing a salary of R0.00 per annum
- South African doctor Maki posted a TikTok calling out what she described as a growing trend of unpaid supernumerary posts across provinces
- Medical professionals online reacted with outrage, calling the advert exploitative and an insult to doctors in the public health system
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Source: UGC
A South African doctor has sparked widespread outrage after calling out a Limpopo Department of Health job listing that advertised 40 medical registrar positions with a salary of R0.00 per annum.
TikTok user Maki, a medical doctor, posted the video on 24 August 2026 calling out the post.
In the video, she explained that the Limpopo Department of Health had advertised so-called supernumerary registrar posts, a model she described as a growing and dangerous trend. She pointed out that the doctors targeted by these posts are not fresh graduates but qualified medical officers with at least three years of paid experience behind them.
Limpopo follows trend of unpaid registrar posts
Maki argued that while supernumerary posts have existed in provinces like the Western Cape and Gauteng, Limpopo’s entry into this space raises the stakes considerably. She noted that Limpopo’s public health system already struggles with underpaid doctors and understaffing, meaning the exploitation of registrars in training could worsen significantly.
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The official job listing confirmed that applicants must already be employed by the Limpopo Department of Health, be registered with the HPCSA for independent practice, and have completed a Part I Fellowship examination. The four-to-five year fixed-term contract also requires candidates to sign a work-back agreement. The R0.00 salary figure on the advert indicates the post is self-funded.
Briefly News has reached out to the department for comment, however, none was received by the stipulated deadline.
Watch Maki’s original video calling out the R0 salary post:
South Africans react with disbelief
The post drew fierce reactions from medical professionals and the public alike:
@SweetGirl said:
“I’m sorry what? I assumed salary R0.00 was obviously an error. No way, absolutely not.”
@Andani offered context:
“The posts are not self-funded. If you read through the advert, they are essentially supernumerary posts for Limpopo medical officers that have written primaries for specialists that are currently severely understaffed with consultants, hence why the low registrar posts.”
@Dr Sbongokuhle Buthelezi said:
“This is an insult from the Department of Health, but as usual we will keep quiet, and that’s why they will keep on exploiting us.”
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Source: Briefly News
