Hospitals disrupted by public sector workers’ national strike

Operations in a number of hospitals throughout the country have been disrupted due to the strike by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) on Monday.  

Nehawu embarked on an indefinite strike to demand a 10% salary increment. 

National health department spokesperson Foster Mohale told TimesLIVE, several hospitals were affected by violent and disruptive action outside health facilities.

“While we respect their right to strike, we condemn any violence and intimidation directed at health workers, patients and infrastructure. The health department, working closely with provincial health authorities and law enforcement agencies, is monitoring the situation for urgent interventions in the best interest of the lives of our health officials and patients.”  

Mohale said disrupted hospitals included Carletonville, Leratong and Thelle Mogoerane in Gauteng. In the Free State, Manapo Regional Hospital and Pelonomi Hospital have been affected.

In North West, Tshepong, Witrand and Moses Kotane hospitals were partially operating and Khayelitsha Hospital in the Western Cape  suffered the same fate.  

No injuries were reported due to the strike by Monday morning.

Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi told TimesLIVE workers were demonstrating peacefully but force was allegedly used by private security to disperse striking workers. 

“At Leratong Hospital they used violence to dispatch our members and as Nehawu we condemn that.  

“Our members are demonstrating peacefully but we are seeing the brutality unleashed on our members. The department must condemn that because our members have been demonstrating peacefully since the beginning of the strike this morning.” 

Nkolonzi alleged that their members were intimidated by private security at some hospitals. 

“There was no violence at all from our side. We were demonstrating peacefully. It is  private security provoking our members and using force.” 

Nkolonzi said the union expected thousands of public sector workers to be “tools down” and demonstrate outside workplaces.

He said workers had no choice but to forge ahead with the strike after negotiations with government for a 10% salary increment hit a deadlock last year.   

“The negotiations collapsed last year and we got a certificate of non-resolve enabling us to embark on a strike as we demand a 10% salary increment.”

The Johannesburg labour court handed down a judgment on Saturday interdicting the strike. 

However, the union decided to go ahead, saying it was appealing the judgment.  

TimesLIVE

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