As South Africa marked Human Rights Day on March 21, the Public Servants Association (PSA) is calling for stronger protection of public servants’ socio-economic rights, saying human rights must go beyond reflection and lead to real support.

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PSA spokesperson Claude Naiker said the day serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during the Sharpeville Massacre, where citizens stood against injustice and inequality. He noted that the lessons from this history require government to continuously uphold dignity, fairness, and equal access to essential services such as healthcare.

Against this backdrop, the PSA has raised serious concerns about ongoing contribution increases by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS). Although the latest increase was slightly adjusted from 9.8% to 9.5%, it follows a significant hike in the previous year and continues to place financial strain on public servants, whose salary increases remain limited.

Naiker explained that access to affordable healthcare is closely linked to fundamental human rights, including dignity, equality and access to healthcare services as outlined in the Constitution.

He warned that when medical aid contributions rise faster than income, public servants are forced to make difficult financial decisions that can compromise their well-being and that of their families.

“Human Rights Day highlights a serious policy contradiction,” Naiker said.

Public servants are expected to uphold constitutional values and deliver essential services, yet many are struggling to afford the very healthcare system meant to support them.”

He added that rising medical aid costs risk excluding lower-income workers from adequate healthcare cover, which goes against the spirit of Human Rights Day.

The PSA believes that the slight reduction in the increase does not go far enough to address affordability concerns.

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Naiker emphasised the need for meaningful engagement, greater transparency in cost management, and sustainable solutions to ensure that GEMS remains accessible and affordable for government employees.

“The erosion of workers’ socio-economic rights must be addressed urgently,” he said, adding that the PSA will continue engaging with stakeholders and advocating for interventions that protect public servants from escalating healthcare costs while preserving their dignity and well-being.