Pray the News
Staff shortages, not foreign moms, behind Dora crisis -
The Herald 15 September
Abstract
While MPs question why undocumented foreign women are allowed to give birth at state hospitals, the real crisis at Dora Nginza Hospital, according to medical staff, is a severely understaffed maternity ward which sees about 170 childbirths a week and 24 caesareans a day. Doctors at the busiest maternity unit in the Eastern Cape said denying the undocumented foreigners care would be a gross human rights violation. But as MPs zeroed in during a recent oversight visit on undocumented migrants giving birth at Dora Nginza, front-line staff said the real crisis lay elsewhere maternity ward running on dangerously thin human resources. The hospital is flooded daily with desperate mothers-to-be from Gqeberha, Kariega, and surrounds as well as the whole of the Sarah Baartman district. More than 5000 women gave birth at the hospital over a period of eight months this year, with only five midwives on duty a day, two of whom are usually assisting in theatre - instead of the required eight, staff said. During the oversight visit, MP’s pressed clinicians on the strain placed on the system by foreign nationals without papers. Dora Nginza Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology department head Dr. Mfundiso Mabenge told parliament’s Health Portfolio Committee last week that he would never turn away heavily pregnant women or a woman in labour. “We do see many foreign nationals (without papers)”, he said. “We have statistics that we keep every month. But the problem is, if someone comes through that door and is fully dilated, we can never send them away. I think that’s a gross human rights violation. We can’t be ill-treating women who are coming to us for help. We deliver the babies here,” Mabenge said. The question around undocumented pregnant foreign nationals adding to pressure on the maternity ward was raised by National Council of Provinces member for social services Mtikeni Sibande. Sibande had asked the management how the hospital responded to this influx. “We don’t have a problem with foreign people with documents,” Sibande said. “But how you respond to issues of people who want to deliver here, are highly pregnant, but don’t have a single document?” Between January and August 2025, a total 411 foreign nationals give birth at Dora Nginza, compared with 4897 South African women.
More Background
Staff shortages at Dora Nginza Hospital, particularly in the maternity ward, have been a persistent issue for over a decade, even before the migrant controversy highlighted in the Herald abstract in 2025. The maternity unit, which is meant to handle regional referrals, operates with dangerously low staffing levels—only five midwives are available per day, two of whom are often reassigned to the operating theater, while eight are needed. This situation leads to exhausted frontline workers, delayed care, and increased risks for both mothers and newborns.
As a result of this understaffing, infant mortality rates have risen, with reports of babies dying in overcrowded neonatal wards due to inadequate monitoring and equipment failures. The shortages are largely attributed to budget constraints, underspending, and structural issues, such as the absence of a district hospital, which forces Dora Nginza to manage primary-level cases.
Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka's 2025 report criticized the Eastern Cape Health Department for maladministration and called for action plans to be developed within 60 to 120 days for staffing, security, and infrastructure improvements. While steps have been taken to address the crisis, including the addition of 30 new nurses in early 2025, the maternity unit remains overwhelmed, leading to recurring strikes and evacuations.
The Public Protector's report, released on May 30, 2025, gave the Eastern Cape Department of Health 60 days to submit a remedial plan for security shortcomings and 120 days to submit an implementation plan addressing broader issues like staff shortages, inadequate equipment, maternity ward space constraints, and the development of a district hospital. This means the initial plan was due by around July 29, 2025, and the full implementation plan by around September 27, 2025. Parliamentary oversight in September 2025 noted progress in these areas, including the addition of 10 doctors and 20 nurses by May 2025
The Report is available here
Prayer Pointers
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are our strength, provider, and healer. We come before You, lifting up Dora Nginza Hospital and its staff, who tirelessly serve under immense pressure. As Psalm 28:7 declares, be their strength and shield, granting doctors and midwives endurance and compassion to care for the 170 weekly childbirths and 24 daily caesareans with love and dignity. Lord, You promise in Philippians 4:19 to meet all needs; we ask for abundant resources—more midwives, equipment, and funding—to fill the gaps where only five midwives serve instead of eight, ensuring safe deliveries for over 5,000 mothers yearly. As Psalm 147:3 assures, heal and protect every mother and newborn in the overcrowded maternity ward, guiding clinicians like Dr. Mfundiso Mabenwe to deliver safe care. In the spirit of Galatians 3:28, unite the staff in serving all patients, including the 411 undocumented foreign nationals, with fairness and respect, free from division. Finally, as James 1:5 promises, grant wisdom to hospital and provincial leaders to address systemic shortages through sustainable solutions like new staff and a district hospital. We trust in Your provision and love, praying all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Listen to the prayer here
Compiled by GAP Ministries
Visit our "Pray the News index page here
The Public Protector's report, released on May 30, 2025, gave the Eastern Cape Department of Health 60 days to submit a remedial plan for security shortcomings and 120 days to submit an implementation plan addressing broader issues like staff shortages, inadequate equipment, maternity ward space constraints, and the development of a district hospital. This means the initial plan was due by around July 29, 2025, and the full implementation plan by around September 27, 2025. Parliamentary oversight in September 2025 noted progress in these areas, including the addition of 10 doctors and 20 nurses by May 2025
The Report is available here
Prayer Pointers
- Prayer for Strength and Compassion for Healthcare Workers
Scripture: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.” (Psalm 28:7, NIV)
Prayer Pointer: Heavenly Father, we lift up the doctors, midwives, and staff at Dora Nginza Hospital, who labor under immense pressure with limited resources. Grant them Your strength to endure long shifts and compassion to care for every patient, including the 170 weekly childbirths and 24 daily caesareans. May they feel Your presence as their shield, sustaining their hearts to serve with love and dignity, especially for vulnerable mothers.
- Prayer for Adequate Resources and Staffing
Scripture: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NIV)
Prayer Pointer: Lord, You are the provider of all needs. We pray for Dora Nginza Hospital, where the maternity ward operates with only five midwives daily instead of the required eight. Provide the necessary human resources, equipment, and funding to alleviate the strain on this critical unit. Open doors for the recruitment of skilled staff and the provision of tools to ensure safe deliveries for the over 5,000 women who give birth annually.
- Prayer for Healing and Safety for Patients
Scripture: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3, NIV)
Prayer Pointer: Gracious God, we pray for the mothers and newborns at Dora Nginza Hospital, especially those in distress due to overcrowding and understaffing. Wrap Your healing arms around each patient, protecting them from harm in the busy maternity ward. Grant wisdom to clinicians like Dr. Mfundiso Mabenwe to deliver safe care, ensuring no mother or child is turned away, as they uphold human dignity.
- Prayer for Unity and Fairness in Serving All Patients
Scripture: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NIV)
Prayer Pointer: Lord Jesus, You see no distinction in those who seek Your love. We pray for Dora Nginza’s staff as they serve all mothers, including the 411 undocumented foreign nationals who gave birth this year. Guard their hearts against division or prejudice, as raised by MPs’ concerns, and help them treat every woman with equity and respect, reflecting Your inclusive love in their care.
- Prayer for Wisdom and Systemic Change
Scripture: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5, NIV)
Prayer Pointer: Almighty God, we seek Your wisdom for the leadership of Dora Nginza Hospital and the Eastern Cape Health Department. Guide them to address the systemic issues of understaffing and resource shortages that endanger lives. Inspire solutions, such as the proposed district hospital and ongoing recruitment plans, to ensure sustainable, effective care for the thousands of mothers and babies relying on this facility.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are our strength, provider, and healer. We come before You, lifting up Dora Nginza Hospital and its staff, who tirelessly serve under immense pressure. As Psalm 28:7 declares, be their strength and shield, granting doctors and midwives endurance and compassion to care for the 170 weekly childbirths and 24 daily caesareans with love and dignity. Lord, You promise in Philippians 4:19 to meet all needs; we ask for abundant resources—more midwives, equipment, and funding—to fill the gaps where only five midwives serve instead of eight, ensuring safe deliveries for over 5,000 mothers yearly. As Psalm 147:3 assures, heal and protect every mother and newborn in the overcrowded maternity ward, guiding clinicians like Dr. Mfundiso Mabenwe to deliver safe care. In the spirit of Galatians 3:28, unite the staff in serving all patients, including the 411 undocumented foreign nationals, with fairness and respect, free from division. Finally, as James 1:5 promises, grant wisdom to hospital and provincial leaders to address systemic shortages through sustainable solutions like new staff and a district hospital. We trust in Your provision and love, praying all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Listen to the prayer here
Compiled by GAP Ministries
Visit our "Pray the News index page here