DA Councillor Elsie Vermooten confirmed that personnel at the Middelburg Provincial Hospital are striking, including doctors and nursing staff, due to overtime grievances and the decaying conditions in which healthcare workers have to provide life-saving services.

“The doctors and nursing staff have not received any compensation for overtime in several months, and they are also dissatisfied with the conditions in which they work.”

The decaying conditions at the hospital have been a pressing issue for several years, with Vermooten confirming overgrown premises crawling with rats, continued sewage spills, deteriorating conditions inside the wards, and a lack of resources.

“I condemn any violence and damage to infrastructure, but can sympathise with hospital personnel. I am not happy with the current conditions and have received many complaints from the public, stating that they are afraid to seek medical care, because it’s like a death sentence. People would rather die at home. The development of the new hospital has also been halted repeatedly over the years, and the time has come for the hospital to move to the new premises,” Vermooten added.

According to feedback from a resident living near the hospital, the strike action is not affecting the entrance or the outer surroundings of the hospital premises.

Confirmation, however, was received that certain parts of the hospital building have been damaged.

• The Middelburg Observer has sent a media enquiry to the Department of Health to confirm whether the strike is legal or affecting the provision of medical care and treatment.

Department of Health media spokesperson Christopher Nobela told the Middelburg Observer that he is unaware of the strike and promised to investigate the matter, with feedback at a later stage.