Health challenges differ substantially among South Africa's provinces, and the day-to-day running of the public healthcare system relies on strong and efficient provincial health departments. Spotlight asked key political parties in KwaZulu-Natal to set out their specific strategies to improve the health systems in the province beyond what is set out in broader national-level manifestos. We previously published similar articles on what parties are putting on the table for health in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape .
In KwaZulu-Natal, the five parties we contacted were the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), the official opposition, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and newcomers Umkhonto weSizwe (MK Party). Polls suggest the MK Party will get a substantial share of the votes in the province. Of the five parties contacted, only the DA responded.
Multiple attempts were made to get responses from the other four parties. The fact that only one political party out of five, that were approached in KwaZulu-Natal, responded to Spotlight's questions adds to the disconnection between politicians and the people, says Professor Zamasomi Luvuno, deputy director at the Centre for Rural Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). "Politicians serve at the pleasure of people who have nominated them and they should know that the way that you communicate with the people who nominated you is also through speaking.
