The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health prioritises safety as it postpones the data capturer assessment due to security concerns.
Image: IOL/ RON AI
THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has postponed its data-capturer assessment originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, due to security threats, following an overwhelming response to job advertisements.
Tip-offs warned of groups planned to blockade and storm the venues.
The department, which advertised 240 jobs in mid-2025, received an overwhelming response, requiring significant time to process the high volume of applications.
The department acknowledged the delay in the process, attributing the prolonged timeline to its Human Resources (HR) team being overwhelmed. This inundation was caused by the simultaneous management of numerous critical recruitment posts.
However, when the department was ready to proceed with the assessments last Wednesday, they received tip-offs regarding threats of blockading at the writing venues. There were groups threatening to storm the institutions, which would not only disrupt the assessment but also risk disturbing health services. Therefore, the department decided to postpone the recruitment process until further notice.
“The decision was simple: People’s safety comes first. We refused to risk the lives of our candidates or disrupt the critical health services at these institutions. The decision was purely about ensuring no one was put in harm’s way. We would not take that risk,” the department said.
“We apologise profusely for the inconvenience and frustration this has caused.”
KZN Health spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said the department received 150,000 applications, which underwent a rigorous process and filtered down to over 30,000 suitable candidates.
Maphisa explained that a system was needed to filter applicants, leading to the process of writing online. Initially, due to hiccups and a large applicant pool (36,000, targeting 200), the department requested broader communication assistance beyond the usual HR methods. Normally, HR handles applicant communication, providing contact details, which is why external discussion is rare in fields like medical recruitment. However, with the initial glitches and scale, the department intervened to help communicate with everyone. Once the pool was significantly reduced to the target, the department ceased involvement, leaving communication to HR’s established systems.
Maphisa said SMSes were sent to applicants. However, there were then reports to HR that there might be disturbances at the exam writing venues.
“It became clear that because they had identified institutions and clinics, disturbances would not be allowed in any programme at a clinic. That is why the department decided to perhaps postpone the writing, especially for the data capturers,” Maphisa said.
He said HR’s communication with applicants continues.
“HR has a way of communicating with those who have applied. There are also numbers that were included in the post, because every post you apply for has a number they give you, saying, ‘Here is the number you can call if you have questions’. So, if you have any kind of questions, there is that number you can call to communicate,” Maphisa said.
“I’m saying that there shouldn’t be a time when people think there is perhaps something political. There is no politician involved, and we must always clarify this in the department. The political head does not get involved in the recruitment process. It is the administrative, the HOD (head of department), and their HR people who handle the recruitment.”
ActionSA KZN chairperson Zwakele Mncwango welcomed the postponement, noting it followed the party’s formal demand to Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane for transparency, accountability, and an urgent investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities.
“ActionSA believes this development demonstrates that raising concerns through proper oversight channels yields results. The cancellation provides an opportunity for the department to pause, reflect and correct any potential procedural flaws before proceeding further,” Mncwango said.
He said applicants raised allegations which include claims that individuals who did not participate in the initial assessment were advanced to the next stage, are serious and warrant immediate intervention.