MECKLENBURG – Operations at the Meclenburg Hospital were interrupted last week when about 40 hospital staff, comprising cleaners and nurses, engaged in an illegal strike.
According to Ms Adele van der Linde, spokesman for the Limpopo Department of Health, they demanded that the chief executive officer, Dr Daniel Sithole be fired.
“The strike, which negatively affected the patients, started last week Wednesday. The department engaged in talks with the staff and management on Thursday. Several critical patients had to be transferred to Dilokong Hospital,” said Van der Linde.
Since then Sithole has been put on forced special leave and the allegations against him are being investigated by an independent team. “Their findings will be made available after two weeks,” Van der Linde said.
It was reported that the allegations made against Sithole included harassment and a nurse was quoted as saying the CEO made her life a “living hell”. Some community members and patients were apparently also upset about his behaviour.
“All the complaints were labour-related. No criminal allegations have been made against him by either the staff or the community,” said Van der Linde.
In the meantime an acting CEO has been appointed to take care of hospital matters.
ANC provincial spokesman Mr Khumbudzo Ntshavheni raised his concerns and said, “Although the ANC respects the right of workers to strike, it must be exercised within the provisions of the law, especially in the essential services sector. It must be noted that strikes in the essential services sector must be a a last resort.”
