Large number of deaths in top South African hospital investigated

The DA called for an investigation into the high mortality rate for heart surgery at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Dr Jack Bloom, the DA Gauteng’s shadow minister for health, said they have called on Wits University Vice-Chancellor Zeblon Vilakazi to investigate the causes.

The mortality rate for heart surgery at the hospital in 2025 was 14%. There were 23 deaths out of 166 surgeries.

This compares to 19% mortality from heart surgeries in 2024, 21% in 2023, and 12% for July to December 2022.

The 14% mortality rate last year is very high. In leading overseas cardiac centres, mortality rates exceeding 2% to 3% would trigger an immediate formal inquiry.

The morbidity figures they give for heart patients are also appallingly high. It was 22% last year, and similar percentages in previous years.

Morbidity refers to complications or adverse outcomes arising from the procedure on heart patients.

The Gauteng Health Department previously claimed a 72.5% reduction in mortality at the hospital. However, this was false.

“The Gauteng Health Department was forced to admit that they had lied in their previous reply to me that there was a 72.5% decrease in mortality,” Bloom said.

He said that this damning evidence of a cover-up at the hospital’s Cardiothoracic Department was concerning.

“When I questioned their previous claim of a 72.5% reduction, the department says they did not intentionally provide false information,” he said.

Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital investigated

Registrars in the Cardiothoracic Department have appealed to the Dean of the Wits Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Shabir Madi, for urgent intervention.

However, according to a statement from Bloom, the appeal from the registrars in the Cardiothoracic Department was ignored.

“Last year, a senior consultant resigned after calling for the immediate suspension of the Head of the Cardiothoracic Department, Dr Tumi Taunyane,” he said.

“This followed allegations by registrars of intimidation, lack of academic leadership, and multiple instances of misconduct.”

Bloom asked Professor Zeblon Vilakazi to urgently investigate the true mortality and morbidity rates and their causes.

He also wants the allegations against Dr Taunyane concerning his leadership and the training conditions for registrars to be probed.

He would like to see measures to restore the Department’s ability to operate with minimal risk and to serve as a viable, accredited training platform.

“South Africa used to be a world leader in heart surgery, but has slipped badly in our province’s flagship hospital,” Bloom said.

The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital should be performing more than 1000 complex heart procedures a year.

However, it is only doing about 200 operations annually, with too many patients dying who could have been saved.

“I have received confirmation from the Health Ombuds’ office that they will be investigating this matter,” he said.

“However, the Wits University should also act speedily to rescue the situation. Their inaction is shameful.”