Nehawu considering Social Development offer‚ could halt strike

The National Education‚ Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and the Department of Social Development have wrapped up negotiations‚ which may end the union's national strike.

The strike began on March 13 and was on Wednesday still underway‚ with one life claimed in the chaos.

One court case in the high court in Johannesburg could not proceed because of outstanding pre-sentencing reports which could not make it to court as a result of the strike.

The National Prosecuting Authority said it had not had any reports of sentencing cases being postponed as a result the strike. It was unclear how cases involving abuse against children‚ which are held under the Child Justice Act‚ have been affected.

Many of these cases require a social worker to assist the court to ensure children involved are not victimised during the court process. Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba said that negotiations with the Department of Social Development drew to a close on Wednesday afternoon‚ with an offer from the employer on the table.

Nehawu will discuss the offer with its members and decide whether to continue with the strike or call it quits. Xaba would not give the details of the offer.

"We are reconvening [on Thursday] around 2pm. We will decide whether to continue with the strike [or accept the offer]‚" he said. Nehawu has 13 demands which it has given to the department‚ including the introduction of a rural allowance and a review salary levels for social worker‚ social auxiliary workers‚ child and youth care workers and other position.

• Social worker strike: Volunteers step inVolunteers have been roped in to assist at KwaZulu-Natal child and youth care centres. 

Xaba said some social workers currently earn less than R200 000 a year. The union has also demanded the absorbtion of unemployed social workers into the government system and that social workers be provided with the correct tools.

Striking workers are allegedly responsible for the mayhem at Gauteng child and youth care centres‚ blocking entrances and preventing food and medication from being delivered.

The department has moved vulnerable children to NGOs. Six-month-old Singalakha Sonamazi died on Tuesday after being transferred to Bethany Trust Home Child and Youth Care Centre. Xaba said that it is the department's duty to ensure essential services continue.

"It's not the prerogative of the union to put contingency plans in place. It is the prerogative of the department‚ so the blame should fall on them. The death of the child is unfortunate and should never have happened. We send our condolences to the family."

Gauteng Social Development Head of Department Wilhemina Reshoketswe Tshabalala said relief workers and department officials have been dispatched to manage the crisis. More than 90 children have been moved to NGOs thus far‚ including children who are accused in criminal proceedings.

"We have also removed kids from Walter Sisulu Centre where it's children in conflict with the law - it’s a very risky area. We have removed some of them to one of an NPOs [non-profit organisations] that provides maximum security." Department spokesperson Mbangwa Xaba said relief efforts will prioritise critical care.

"When we make contingency plans the first port of call are all emergencies‚ where there is a threat to life." Some institutions have between one and three non-striking staff members on sites‚ some of which have been "locked in" by violent protests‚ Tshabalala said.

She called on communities to assist. "We appeal to members of society that they volunteer‚ that they don't fear to be on site. We need people to cook‚ we need people to clean‚ we need people to bath and just give love. All that they need is love and affection at this point. Kids are traumatised. Staff are traumatised."

- TMG Digital