Medical Officer Grade 1-3 REF NO: ECHEALTH/MO/APL/BCM-FPS/01/10/2026

In brief

**Overview** The Eastern Cape Department of Health is seeking Medical Officers for Grade 1-3 positions within their Buffalo City Metro Forensic Pathology Services Ku Gompo centre. This role is crucial for providing medico-legal forensic pathology services, involving post-mortem examinations, investigations, and expert court testimony. The compensation is an all-inclusive annual package, structured according to Middle Management Service guidelines, with varying salary scales depending on the grade (Grade 1: R1 041 402 – R1 121 241; Grade 2: R1 188 255 – R1 278 089; Grade 3: R1 375 245 – R1 713 534). **What you will do** Key responsibilities include: * Performing medico-legal post-mortem examinations and completing all related investigations and documentation. * Finalising post-mortem reports within a 12-week turnaround period, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. * Compiling and completing post-mortem reports and all related medico-legal documentation accurately and timeously. * Providing conclusions for causes of death based on ancillary investigation reports. * Delivering efficient expert evidence in court related to autopsied cases, including formulating forensic second opinions as requested by the Department of Justice. * Attending to and examining incident cases. * Providing support to the Heads: Clinical Unit and Department, Medical Specialists and Safe Practices. * Assisting with the teaching and training of medical and forensic students, as well as forensic pathology officers, in medico-legal autopsies and related investigations. * Participating in weekend and after-hours work. * Undergoing further training in the medico-legal investigation of unnatural death, if required. * Partaking in all the department's academic and training activities. * Providing Forensic Pathology Service at a district level as delegated. * Producing reports of high quality. * Maintaining a satisfactory level of professional Court attendance. * Maintaining satisfactory clinical, professional and ethical standards related to Forensic Pathology Services. * Attending to administrative matters as required. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * Appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as Medical Practitioner. * Registration with the HPCSA as Medical Practitioner. **Experience:** * **Grade 1**: * None after registration as Medical Practitioner with HPCSA (for SA qualified employees). * 1-year relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council (for foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service in South Africa). * **Grade 2**: * A minimum of 5 years’ appropriate experience as Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner (for SA qualified employees). * A minimum of 6 years’ relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council (for foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service in South Africa). * **Grade 3**: * A minimum of 10 years’ appropriate experience as a Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner (for SA qualified employees). * A minimum of 11 years’ relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council (for foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service in South Africa). * Ability to work independently to autopsies and crime scene investigation. * Good practical knowledge of forensic pathology theory and practice. * Knowledge of the relevant legislations. * Knowledge of applicable parts of Occupational Health Act and Risk assessment process. **Knowledge, Skills, Training and competencies:** * Ability to perform medico-legal post-mortem examinations and crime scene investigations. * Ability to work in multi-disciplinary team setting. * A certificate of competence as a forensic medical Officer or work experience in forensic pathology. * Excellent communication skills, including computer literacy. * Basic knowledge of forensic photography. * Ability to make well-founded decisions and conclusions. * Resilience and ability to work with fragmented and decomposed remains. * Ability to make a positive contribution in a busy department. **Who should apply** This role is suitable for Medical Practitioners who hold appropriate registration with the HPCSA (or a recognised foreign Health Professional Council) and possess varying levels of post-registration experience (from none for Grade 1 SA qualified employees, up to 10-11 years for Grade 3). Ideal candidates will have a strong background or interest in forensic pathology, including performing medico-legal post-mortem examinations and crime scene investigations. Applicants should demonstrate good practical knowledge of forensic pathology theory and practice, understanding of relevant legislation, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team. Essential qualities include excellent communication skills (including computer literacy), resilience for working with challenging materials, and the capacity to make well-founded decisions. Candidates must be prepared to participate in weekend and after-hours work and contribute to academic and training activities within the department. **Deadline** Not specified **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/medical-officer-grade-1-3-ref-no-echealth-mo-apl-bcm-fps-01-10-2026-eastern-cape-department-of-health Source: myjobmag

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