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‘I think what sets her apart is her strong social justice advocacy, and she is a fair person. She was a strong activist against Apartheid in South Africa and is a pro-Palestinian activist.’
By YASEEN BARDIEN
In a time of worldwide uncertainty, individuals who have the power to make meaningful change are needed more than ever. As South Africans, with a rich history in standing up for justice and equality throughout the fight against Apartheid, the importance of leadership cannot be overstated.
It is in light of this that an important election, coming up in two days’ time, will need South Africans of conscience to step forward.
Members of Discovery Health, which is among the most popular medical schemes in the country, are being given the opportunity to make their voices heard by electing an individual to serve on the scheme’s board.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday, June 26.
Among those running for the Discovery Health Medical Scheme Board of Trustees is Dr Algonda ‘Gonda’ Perez.
Dr Perez is a public health specialist with extensive management experience. She is a renowned social justice advocate. Her activism began in her student days, going into exile in 1975, before returning to South Africa in 1990 after the unbanning of political parties.
Dr Perez studied dentistry in Algeria, graduating in 1983, and worked in the public healthcare sector in Zambia and Zimbabwe. After completing postgraduate studies in health services management and a master’s degree in community dentistry at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in 1995, Dr Perez joined the national Department of Public Service and Administration where she was Director of Health Promotion and Communication. She also served as chairperson of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).
In 2000, she was appointed deputy dean of undergraduate education at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences, with the specific brief of fast-tracking transformation in the faculty. She served in that position for two decades before retiring at the end of February 2020.
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Dr. Samah El-Boraei, a supporter of D. Perez’s campaign says that she has a clear vision for improving the current system. She adds that the campaign focuses on reforming medical aid to expand coverage, especially for women and the elderly. Ensuring a fairer and more equitable assessment of individual needs is also high on the agenda, along with a better decision-making process.
Dr El-Boraei, who is the Western Cape Chair of the Health Care Workers4Palestine, emphasised Dr Perez’s unwavering ethics.
‘She’s an ethics-based person. So that is why we’ve decided to campaign for her.
‘In terms of human rights, she is not afraid to speak up for what’s right, not afraid to speak up for people who are discriminated against, people who are ostracised and people who have their rights taken away from them.’
Every vote matters, and Dr El-Boraei has reminded voters that they too have a role to play.
‘When you pay for medical aid, you are contributing to that company, which gives you rights that we sometimes don’t exercise. It’s up to Discovery to engage meaningfully with its clients,’ remarked Dr El-Boraei.
‘Everything has a beginning, and the Discovery Health AGM is an opportunity to start meaningful change,’ add Dr El-Boraei.
Late last year, Discovery Health was embroiled in controversy, receiving strong criticism after aligning with Israeli healthcare institutions during the Future of Health (FOH) Summit, leading to concerns about the stance and responsibilities of large companies in relation to the genocide being committed by Israel.
‘I think what sets her apart is her strong social justice advocacy, and she is a fair person. She was a strong activist against Apartheid in South Africa and is a pro-Palestinian activist. And unfortunately, we don’t have enough of those in healthcare. You would think we do, but we actually don’t have people who will put their money where their mouth is and actually stand up for what’s right.
‘That is her strongest point and that is why I think people should vote for her,’ concluded Dr El-Boraei.
Discovery members are urged to register not later than 9:00am on Wednesday June 25 to attend virtually, and exercise their vote. Click on the following link: https://reg.lumiengage.com/dhms-agm-2025
