A collective of doctors from across South Africa has lambasted the South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) for failing to represent the interests of health professionals with many facing deteriorating working conditions. The doctors, say their urgent call to Samatu to “confront the deepening crisis” in the health system has fallen on deaf ears as junior doctors continue to face mass unemployment, and public-sector clinicians struggle with resource constraints and excessive unpaid overtime hours. Denzil Taylor is in conversation with Senior Medical Doctor, Dr. Simon Spoor and Dr Senior Medical Doctor, Dr. Akesh Maharaj.