Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) head office was “invaded”, allegedly by striking National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members on Monday.
Education MEC David Maynier said some striking workers had accessed the walk-in Client Service Centre at the head office, reportedly posing as parents, before disrupting services.
“Parents and teachers waiting patiently for support on a range of issues were completely disregarded by the protesters and prevented from going about their business,” he said.
“Most disturbingly, eyewitnesses report that the striking workers entered the Service Centre under false pretences, posing as parents, before removing items of clothing to reveal Nehawu T-shirts. This is deliberately deceitful behaviour designed to cause fear and to disrupt the business of our department.”
The police were immediately called, said Maynier.
“Nehawu has clearly demonstrated that they do not care about our learners, parents or teachers. Their invasion of the Service Centre has prevented parents from submitting admissions queries, teachers from rectifying salary or payment issues, retired teachers from dealing with pension matters, and a host of other regular support services from being completed,” he added.
Like many other provinces, the Western Cape has experienced disruptions at some of its facilities due to the ongoing public sector strike.
The disruptions primarily took place at the Khayelitsha District Hospital and Michael Mapongwana Community Day Centre. Forty-five critical patients were transferred to other nearby hospitals due to the disruption in services.
The Western Cape government was granted an interdict on Friday against public servants affiliated with Nehawu.
The Cape Town Labour Court also granted the health and social development departments an interdict against the strike.
The order states that all Nehawu members must stop striking.
Nehawu is demanding a 10% wage increase, while the government is only prepared to pay 4.7%.
Hospitals around the country have been hit by the strike, which has now entered its second week.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla revealed on Monday that the health department had sought help from the Military Health Services, and that more nurses could be deployed to the three severely affected hospitals in Gauteng.
Security has also been reinforced at some facilities.
Last week, Phaahla said there had been four deaths as a direct result of the strike. On Monday morning, he added that more people had died.
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