Cape Town – Striking National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) members in the Western Cape on Wednesday urged all health facilities in Khayelitsha to only attend to trauma and maternity ward patients, as the protest intensified.
According to Eye Witness News, government departments and offices in Khayelitsha were closed due to the disruptions caused by the striking action.
Disgruntled public servants embarked on the strike despite a ruling by the Labour Court which interdicted the action. They are demanding a salary increase of 10–12% while the government is offering offered 4.7%.
Nehawu affiliated health workers outside Khayelitsha Hospital have urged all Khayelitsha health facilities to only attend to trauma and maternity ward patients. #NEHAWUStrikeUpdate pic.twitter.com/CSC9Mt6Vpj
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 8, 2023
On Thursday, the union members dared a rainy weather, as they continued to demonstrate outside Khayelitsha Hospital.
Nehawu affiliated health workers outside Khayelitsha Hospital staging demonstrations daring a rainy weather in demand of 10% wage increase. PSCBC has called both the union and the employer back to the negotiation table today. pic.twitter.com/mNEJCA78XK
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 9, 2023
The ongoing nationwide strike has reportedly led to loss of life.
Speaking at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg late on Wednesday, Minister of Health Joe Phaahla claimed there were reports of a number of strike-related deaths.
“… There are reports already of South Africans who have died, whose deaths can be attributed directly to the strike and we will be following up on this. But there are already indications just here in Gauteng of specific hospitals where patients have died,” Phaahla said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
