Members of the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) are gathering next to the statue of Mandela at the Provincial Legislature and at the entrance to Rob Ferreira Hospital today, March 7, to continue their ongoing protest that started on Monday, March 6, despite an interdict issued by the Department of Public Service and Administration.

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Currently, services have been disrupted at Rob Ferreira Hospital, and only the emergency unit is allowed to operate while other sections remain closed. The entrance to the hospital was blocked by rocks and waste, making it difficult for patients and visitors to enter or leave. A number of patients had to go back home unattended.

The MEC for finance, economic development and tourism, Nompumelelo Hlophe, is expected to deliver the provincial budget for the 2023/24 financial year at the Provincial Legislature at 14:00 today. It is not clear if the protesters are going to disrupt her speech.

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According to Nehawu’s president, Mike Shingane, the aim of the protest was to demand an increase of salaries for government workers, for vacant posts to be filled, for civil servants to be provided with housing subsidies, and for their children to receive bursaries.
“We demand a 10% increase, because anything less than the inflation rate is not actually a salary increase,” he stated.

This is developing story. Mpumalanga News will update its readers once more information becomes available.