Image: Alaister Russel/Sunday Times
Two months into the job, newly-appointed Gauteng health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku says his journey has been a roller-coaster ride so far.
“I haven’t felt that I have arrived, like I have settled in. I don’t think I have landed as yet; we’re in the process of landing,” he told TimesLIVE.
Born and bred in Soweto, the 43-year-old said his typical day involved back-to-back meetings, hospital visits and a lot of reading up.
Despite long days on the job, the married father of three still finds the time to feed his two-month-old son, who was born two days before he was sworn in, and play with his two other sons.
Masuku was appointed to the tough position two months ago. Some of the the burning issues he has faced include overcrowding at hospitals, staff shortages, lack of infrastructure, filing systems and alleged under-spending of the budget.
After completing his high schooling at Sekano-Ntoane Secondary School, which President Cyril Ramaphosa also attended, Masuku enrolled at the University of Pretoria to pursue what he described as his first love: medicine.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to study medicine. My first experience in the ward as medicine intern was at a maternity ward. It combines being a doctor with a little bit of surgery. Ever since, I’ve always had a passion to do it,” he said.
Prior his appointment as MEC, Masuku was the head of the obstetrics and gynaecology unit at the Thelle Mohoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus.
The obstetrics and gynaecology graduate did not, however, allow his studies to interfere with his other love – politics.
Read more of the story on TimesLIVE
BY: NONKULULEKO NJILO
SOURCE: TMG DIGITAL
