MEDICAL OFFICER: GRADE 1 TO 3 (SURGERY) (X3 POSTS) (20 SESSIONS PER WEEK) (UNTIL 31 MARCH 2029)

The three Medical Officer posts in Surgery at Khayelitsha District Hospital are being offered through Metro Health Services on a sessional basis, with each post amounting to 20 sessions per week and running until 31 March 2029. The positions are graded from Medical Officer Grade 1 to Grade 3, depending on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidates. These are clinical posts within a busy district hospital that forms part of the broader Metro East ecosystem, and the role is central to delivering a dependable general surgical service to the community. The appointed medical officers will be responsible for the full spectrum of surgical patient care, including managing patients in the emergency centre, surgical wards and outpatient departments, as well as providing pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care at a level appropriate to their experience. They will also manage inpatient and outpatient referrals and participate in after-hours surgical care. Beyond clinical care, the role carries significant clinical governance duties such as resource stewardship, ensuring accurate medical record-keeping, contributing to morbidity and mortality reviews, and conducting case audits. Teaching and training are also key components, with participation expected in both undergraduate and postgraduate academic programmes. In addition, the post encourages active involvement in research and requires contribution to improving internal systems within the general surgery service, both within the hospital and across the Metro East ecosystem. Where reasonable and feasible, the post holder will take part in the wider clinical and administrative functions of the surgical service.

Applicants must hold an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Practitioner and must already be registered with the HPCSA. For appointment at Grade 1, South African qualified applicants require no post-registration experience, while foreign qualified applicants who are not required to perform community service need at least one year of relevant experience. Grade 2 requires a minimum of five years’ appropriate experience for South African qualified applicants, or six years for foreign qualified applicants. Grade 3 requires a minimum of ten years’ appropriate experience for South African qualified applicants, or eleven years for foreign qualified applicants. Inherent requirements include a valid Code B/EB driver’s licence and a willingness and ability to travel. The post also requires compliance with Continuing Professional Development requirements. For permanent or full-time appointments, full commuted overtime averaging 16 hours per week is mandatory. The successful candidate must demonstrate an ability to deliver high-quality general surgical services, strong ethical principles, leadership, conflict resolution, organisational and counselling skills, digital systems competency, and a willingness to teach at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Enrolment to write the General Surgery FCS Part 1 examination is also required.

Shortlisted candidates should be prepared for thorough verification and vetting. They must produce original identity documents, qualifications, service certificates and driver’s licences before the interview. Qualifications and licences will be verified with the relevant institutions. Candidates must not have any previous criminal convictions or pending criminal or departmental cases, and they must consent to fingerprinting, background enquiries and security screening as part of the appointment process. Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake pre-entry assessments, including a practical exercise and an integrity assessment, and for certain identified posts, additional vetting is conducted in terms of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and the Children’s Act. Applications must reach the correct address before the closing date, as late applications and submissions to an incorrect address will not be considered.