Newly installed minister of health Dr Joe Phaahla has had to hit the ground running when he was announced as the incumbent almost a week ago. He took over a portfolio mired in recent controversy that sought to overshadow the sterling work it had done since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic on our shores nearly 16 months ago.

Save for the scandal of Sarafina II during the tenure of the first health minister in the new dispensation, the ministry of health has largely been exemplary despite many other problems such as deteriorating health facilities. The public were beginning to view the department in a favourable light as Phaahla's immediate predecessor, Dr Zweli Mkhize, appeared to fight a great fight against the pandemic...