Africa-Press – South-Africa. Public servants affiliated with the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) have gone on strike at hospitals and other state facilities in parts of the country, despite the government obtaining a court order barring the union’s wage strike.
Nehawu and several other public servant unions have been locked in a wage dispute with the government. The Department of Public Service and Administration has proposed a salary increase of 4.7%, and the union is demanding 10-12%.
On Sunday, Nehawu said a court granted the department an interdict barring the union’s strike, which was planned for Monday. Nehawu said its leaders were consulting lawyers over the interdict.
On Monday, Nehawu spokesperson Ashley Mabohale said the union’s protest was a national strike and a call to action.
“Our grievances must be heard so there can be change,” said Mabohale.
There have been reports of protests outside hospitals and district offices in Gauteng, North West and the Free State.
Demonstrators in Bloemfontein shut down the Pelonomi Hospital on Monday morning.
Health department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the department noted the “violent and disruptive” actions by Nehawu members at health facilities around the country.
He said:
Mohale said the department was working closely with provincial health officials and law enforcement agencies to monitor the situation for urgent interventions and to protect health workers and patients.
The Gauteng health department’s Motalatale Modiba said ambulances in the province were being blocked from attending to emergencies.
“In other instances, ambulances are unable to attend to emergencies as they can’t leave or enter facilities due to the blocking of entrances by striking workers. This is affecting the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services’ incident response time, leading to delays in responding to distress calls from the public,” said Modiba.
He said they received reports of property being damaged at hospitals on the West Rand.
“There has been reports of damage to property, including a car that was set alight at one of the hospitals on the West Rand. Further action will be taken against those responsible for damaging property or endangering the lives of health workers and patients.”
The health facilities affected in Gauteng were:
Meanwhile, at least one Home Affairs office in Cape Town was closed on Monday due to the strike action.
A number of court cases in the city were also disrupted as interpreters were unavailable.
Nehawu acting regional secretary Temba Gubula said workers at all Home Affairs offices in the country would strike until the pay dispute was resolved.
There were angry scenes at the doors of the Western Cape High Court, with people sympathising with the workers, but furious over the waste of time and transport money. A group of protesters made their way to the Master’s office and said they planned to go to Groote Schuur Hospital later.
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