Madlanga Commission | Spotlight on sick notes delaying the commission

Tomorrow is Monday, and for many employers it's the day when absenteeism traditionally spikes. While countless employees are genuinely ill and need time to recover, Mondays have long been associated with workers calling in sick after a busy weekend, often backed by a medical certificate.

Most notably, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga sharply criticised what he described as a "useless" medical certificate submitted to explain a witness's absence, reigniting questions about the credibility and misuse of sick notes.

At the same time, a Judicial Conduct Tribunal is examining the case of a Free State judge who has been on extended sick leave for years, raising broader concerns about accountability, oversight and public confidence in medical certificates.

So, how do employers distinguish between genuine illness and abuse of sick leave? What ethical obligations do doctors have when issuing medical certificates? Can practitioners be held accountable for questionable certificates? And where do traditional healers fit within South Africa's legal framework governing sick notes?

Joining us are Professor Arthur Rantloane, Chairperson of the Medical and Dental Professions Board at the HPCSA, and Bruce Mbedzi, Director, Traditional Medicine, Department of Health, Traditional Health Practitioners Association.

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