Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that since March 2024 the total of medico-legal claims against the state has increased to R77bn. - Business Day (21 July 2025)
As of June, Gauteng Health was contending with 707 active cases, while the Eastern Cape faced 2,332 cases overwhelming these provinces’ budgets. Between April 2024 and early 2025, Gauteng spent R421m settling claims, a 19% increase from the previous year. The Eastern Cape saw its payouts increase by 14% to R306m over the same period. Most the high-value claims relate to birth injuries.
Meanwhile, investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed that a significant number of claims are either fraudulent or grossly inflated.
The investigation has already saved the state more than R3.1bn by identifying and halting fraudulent claims. In one major success, the unit uncovered 33 fraudulent birth injury claims in the Western Cape, collectively worth R409 million.
Key measures to prevent fraudulent claims include strengthening patient safety; improving record-keeping; and introducing legal reforms.