Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Gauteng Department of Health has obtained an interdict to stop striking National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members from obstructing health services in the province.
Some hospitals were subjected to a “total shutdown” as the public sector strike entered its third day on Wednesday.
Health department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said at some hospitals, patients were left unattended as striking workers “went inside wards ordering staff out of the facilities”.
The affected hospitals included Kopanong Provincial, Sebokeng Regional, Thelle Mogoerane Regional, Bheki Mlangeni District, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic, and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic hospitals.
Emergency Medical Services personnel were also threatened against responding to calls and were denied access to and from facilities.
Modiba said: “The department was left with no choice but to seek relief from the courts, given the dire impact of the strike in various facilities where the lives of both patients and staff were under threat.”
The interdict prevents striking workers from doing anything which “directly or indirectly obstructs or impedes access to and from health facilities” and damages any of the department’s property. It also prohibits protesters from barricading entrances or buildings, molesting, assaulting, threatening or intimidating staff and patients.
“The South African Police Service has been ordered to take all steps necessary to give effect to the interim interdict, including the removal and expulsion of any person obstructing the rendering of services from properties and premises of [the department],” Modiba added.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko are expected to visit affected healthcare facilities on Thursday.
Phaahla received reports of disruptions to essential health services at other provincial health departments.
Ministerial spokesperson Foster Mohale said Phaahla would use the visits to announce various measures taken by the national department to support hard-hit districts and health facilities and to interact with healthcare workers and patients.
Mohale said the site visits would begin at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and would enable the minister and MEC to gain first-hand experience of the level of the disruptions which pose a threat to health workers and vulnerable patients.
The worst-affected provinces are Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Free State, News24 previously reported.
The Free State Department of Health also obtained an interdict against protesters on Wednesday morning, in a bid to halt acts of intimidation and attempts to prevent nurses and others from going to work.
The interdict was awarded after protesters blocked entrances to various hospitals on Tuesday.
There were also reports of intimidation, department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said.
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