There are 2‚448 patients on the waiting lists for surgery at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital. The wait ranges from three weeks to six years.This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu in a written reply to questions in the Gauteng Legislature.Her brother was a match‚ but he got murdered - now kidney patient's wish is to find a donorThe longest waiting list is for patients needing a kidney transplant – there are 130 patients waiting for six years.Other long waiting lists and waiting times are:- Surgery to remove cataracts‚ with 460 patients who will wait about four to five months for their operation.- Gastroscopy - 250 patients waiting for 3 months- Colonoscopy - 180 patients waiting for 3 months- Coronary bypass elective operation - 143 patients waiting for 3 to 4 weeks- Orchidopexy (correcting undescended testicle for boys) - 106 patients waiting from 3 to 6 monthsAccording to Mahlangu‚ long waiting lists are due to the prioritization of emergency cases‚ limited theatre capacity and donor shortages for transplants.The Democratic Alliance’s health spokesman‚ Jack Bloom‚ commented: “An astonishing 1‚492 operations were deferred or cancelled at the hospital last year. This has increased the frustration of doctors and patients who wish to have their operations as soon as possible.”Mahlangu said that various surgical procedures are referred to other hospitals and extra theatre lists have been introduced on weekends and holidays to catch up theatre work.Despite the extra measures‚ Bloom said‚ the surgery waiting list has increased by more than 200 patients from 2‚246 last year.“More measures are needed to cut down on long waiting times for surgery at this hospital.“This should include cutting down on avoidable reasons for cancelling operations such as lack of clean linen or equipment.”..