​Gauteng health surpassed its previous record after successfully performing 806 life-changing surgical procedures in 12-hours across 29 hospitals as part of the third Nelson Mandela Day Surgical Marathon. 
Healthcare workers carried out 64 more surgeries compared to 742 conducted in 2024 during the same campaign. 
The Surgical Marathon is expected to continue until the end of July 2025 with an aim to deliver hope and restore livelihoods, as well as enhance independence and overall well-being of patients scheduled for elective surgeries. This initiative by the Gauteng Department of Health continues to transform lives through life-changing surgical procedures. 
Leveraging on the Mandela Day theme that: "It's Still in Our Hands to Combat Poverty and Inequity", the department called on its employees to get involved by providing life-changing elective procedures including cataract, colostomy reversal, cleft palate, urology and breast surgeries amongst others.
"Since we embarked on the surgical marathons three years ago, each year we surpass the target of the previous year as we strive to do more to make a difference. The work we do during this period is over and above the normal elective surgeries done by our facilities" said MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, commending health professionals, students from local universities, and organisations like the Smile Foundation and the Dr SK Matseke Hospital that partnered with the Department. 
After three months of struggling with vision in his right eye, Mohamed Patel (72) walked out of theatre with a grateful heart and a clearer view of the world. Patel is one of 80 patients who received a cataract surgery at Leratong Hospital during the Surgical Marathon who after the procedure commended the hospital for the "wonderful service".
In addition, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko re-opened the newly refurbished Urology Unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, a facility now equipped to offer safer, more precise prostate biopsies without the need for a surgical theatre.
The Unit been transformed into a cutting-edge research lab to collect vital data on prostate cancer, conduct local clinical trials and treatment into life-saving knowledge.