Disciplinary hearings involving 21 Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel accused of failing to complete scheduled working hours continued at the Gauteng EMS facility in Midrand on Tuesday, while affected employees and their supporters renewed calls for the department to address their long-standing overtime concerns.

The employees were initially scheduled to appear for disciplinary proceedings at the Midrand facility on September 30, but the hearings were postponed, according to affected workers.

On Tuesday (October 6), some employees continued with their hearings in Midrand, while other affected workers gathered at Boulders Shopping Centre, opposite the Gauteng EMS facility, to show support for their colleagues and raise concerns about the working-hours dispute. Attendees said the hearings would continue on Wednesday.

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Emergency care worker Lerato Phala said workers were not refusing to work but wanted the department to engage with them over what they described as unpaid overtime.

“We are not happy. We are here to support our fellow colleagues. We are also not happy with the way we are treated. It’s been years and years. We’ve been going up and down with this matter. Nobody’s listening to us,” Phala said.

She said workers remained committed to serving communities but wanted clarity on how additional hours would be compensated.

“We are not denying to work. We still serve our community with pride. We love our community. We are lifesavers, and we’re not going to change that because we made an oath that we’re going to serve our community,” she said.

According to Phala, EMS workers were working about 192 hours a month, with the additional 32 hours allegedly not being compensated. “I, for one, have been working since July 1, 2008. I’ve never got my salary, no OSD, no compensation, nothing till today,” she said.

Phala said workers wanted their employer to engage with them and find a resolution to the dispute.

Democratic Alliance Gauteng health spokesperson Madeleine Hicklin also joined workers at Boulders on Tuesday as she continues to support them.

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The Gauteng Department of Health has previously disputed claims that workers were suspended over the matter.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said no EMS officials had been suspended, but confirmed that 21 officials had been issued with charge sheets for alleged dereliction of duty after failing to complete scheduled working hours in line with their employment contracts and shift rosters. “EMS is an essential service, and its employees are required to adhere to their contractual obligations and approved shift rosters,” Mabona said.

He said overtime, the averaging of working hours and compressed working arrangements were managed in accordance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

Mabona added that where employees failed to report for scheduled working hours, the no-work-no-pay principle was applied in accordance with policy.

He said the department had measures in place to ensure EMS operations continued, including support from nearby stations when required.

Mabona also said the department had not threatened employees with dismissal, but that the matter had been reported to the Health Professions Council of South Africa over concerns that the conduct may have contravened professional and ethical rules.

The dispute continues as affected employees await the outcome of the disciplinary process and seek engagement with the department over their overtime concerns.

Midrand Reporter sent an inquiry to the Gauteng Department of Health on Tuesday seeking clarity on the ongoing disciplinary hearings, the alleged unpaid overtime, and the department’s response to the workers’ concerns.

The department’s response will be published once received.

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