Note to Broadcasters: Find linked soundbite in English by Gavin Edwards MPL
The DA condemns the atrocious behaviour by striking healthcare workers in the North West Province.
The efforts by the MEC of Health, Madoda Sambatha, to ensure that Healthcare services return to normal in the province are welcomed. However, we remain concerned about the ANC-led government’s willingness and ability to resolve the crises.
Patients have been left to fend for themselves after individuals affiliated with the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) disrupted services in various hospitals around the province during the week.
The NEHAWU strike has a dire impact on health care services at hospitals and clinics, putting the lives of patients and personnel at risk.
Striking health workers locked the gates of the offices of the Provincial Department of Health, while the medicine depot was also closed on Monday.
Worst affected was the Klerksdorp Tshepong Hospital, which was shut down by the striking workers. Families of patients were prevented from entering the hospital while patients who had been discharged were left unattended in wheelchairs within the hospital corridors.
In Potchefstroom, health services were brought to a halt at the Witrand Hospital. Limited medical care was provided during the week due to continuous intimidation by striking officials.
The DA condemns the disruption of health services which resulted in patients being without medical care, food, or medication. The barricading of hospitals and preventing ambulances from accessing hospitals is unacceptable.
The fact that essential workers are being threatened with violence and blocked from performing their duties, despite a court order prohibiting the “barricading of entrances or buildings, molesting, assaulting, threatening or intimidating any members of staff, employees, in or out patients, contractors, visitors…” amongst others and often in full view of the police is shocking.
The North West Department of Health was forced to deploy tactical security teams around the province when the SAPS failed to intervene.
The DA will write to the MEC for Community safety, Sello Lehari, demanding an explanation for the tardy response by the police. We will also request that the MEC provide the DA with a detailed plan of how his department intends to deal with the situation.
We will remain in constant communication with the North West Provincial Department of Health and the MEC.