Essential workers belonging to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) who participated in the public service strike are gradually returning to work and people are largely once again able to get their scripts filled, visit clinics and receive hospital treatment.

An interdict granted by the Labour Appeal Court on Monday ended the seven-day protest action, which severely impacted health services and patients needing urgent treatment.

The Department of Health warned on Monday that any employee who fails to comply with the court order preventing essential workers from striking will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal.

Nehawu has also urged essential workers to adhere to the court order and return to work.

Interdict ignored

However, there are isolated reports of healthcare workers ignoring the interdict, such as at the Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital in QwaQwa. Free State provincial departmental spokesperson Mondli Mvambi says the department received information from the health facility that about 117 workers are seemingly still on strike in defiance of the court order.

“The department is keeping an eye to see if the situation returns to normal. At another facility in the same area, the Elizabeth Ross District Hospital, staff has been reported to be on duty and all units are functional,” says Mvambi.

He says that the department is also keeping an eye on the Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad, as it seems the strikers have gathered at the gate of the hospital in an attempt to defy the order to return to work.

Bloemfontein Courant reports that nurses at Free State’s biggest hospital, the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein, also remains a concern.

“Although workers are back at Pelonomi, the department will keep a close eye as the hospital has been identified as a main centre where strike activities could heavily impact healthcare services in the province,” says Mvambi.

Back to business

“At the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, the situation is calm, with no protestors in sight, and services are running well. At the National District Hospital, the situation remains calm and operations are fully functional. The Medical Depot is able to receive stock from suppliers and dispense medicines to various health facilities. Order has also been restored at the Free State Psychiatric Complex, with workers returning to work after the strike.”

“There have been no reports of any defiance at the Embekweni Hospital and the Matlakeng Clinic in Zastron, and the situation at both facilities is returning to normal.

Mvambi says the department urges Nehawu members to respect the court interdict and allow health professionals to save lives.

In KZN, KwaDukuza’s General Justice Gizenga Mpanza (GJGM) Hospital nurses returned to work yesterday, while operations are starting to once again run smoothly in the Free State.

Acknowledging that services had been disrupted and that workers and patients were intimidated at GJGM Hospital, provincial health MEC Nomagugu Simelane on Sunday said health workers were prohibited from striking.

The provincial health department’s human resources chief director, Nozipho Mthembu, said participating nurses would not be paid because the strike was illegal.

“Those who were willing to come to work but were blocked by protesters ought to have communicated with their immediate supervisors so as to be exonerated.”

The reason behind the strike is an attempt by trade unions to get the department to agree to a 10% salary increase, instead of the 4.7% offer that has been put on the table.

In other provinces, it has been reported that patients’ lives have been lost and an investigation will be launched to determine if the protestors can be held accountable. Last week, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla confirmed that preliminary figures show that four people are believed to have lost their lives ‘in a manner that could directly be attributed to the strike’.