JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Africa’s second biggest provincial government was in retreat on Wednesday, days after a circular announcing that it was ending the recruitment and employment of foreign doctors.

KwaZulu-Natal health Member of the Executive Council (MEC) Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu said she had directed the province’s acting head of health, Dr. Musa Gumede, to withdraw the circular.

In the circular dated September 4, Gumede said the decision to suspend the foreign professionals was taken because the department “has recruited a huge number of South African citizens to be trained as doctors in Cuba” who would have to be accommodated.

“The department will not have sufficient posts and funds to absorb these doctors should the recruitment and employment of foreign doctors not be reviewed and suspended,” Gumede added.

But Simelane-Zulu said the matters mentioned in the circular “were not discussed or agreed upon by the sixth 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,” she said, adding that the circular should be regarded as null and void.

“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 We deeply regret the confusion that has arisen, and the impression created by the dissemination of this outdated circular with outdated decisions.”

The department valued the contribution of local and foreign doctors, she said.

“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,” said Simelane-Zulu said.

South Africa has experienced violence in Johannesburg in recent weeks, mostly directed at Nigerian nationals, which also led to tensions between the two countries. A number of Nigerians have been flown back to their homeland by their government. – African News Agency (ANA)