Aggrieved nurses march to Limpopo Health Dept over contract dispute
The employees claim that they are still accommodated in the budget for the rest of the financial year, and should therefore still be in service.
POLOKWANE – An organised group of 702 nurses in Limpopo are challenging the Health Department’s decision not to renew their six-month contracts in the 2023/24 financial year.
The employees were appointed across all healthcare facilities 2019.
They claim that they are still accommodated in the budget for the rest of the financial year, and should therefore still be in service.
On July 3, the aggrieved nurses met at the park on Hospital Street to find a working solution and resolved to request a permit at the local municipality to march to the Health Department earlier today to submit a demand that questions relating to their contracts, be responded to.
📽️ – Around 706 nurses and health care workers have gathered in Polokwane to march to the Limpopo Department of Health. They are challenging department’s decision not to renew their six-month contracts in the 2023/24 financial year. pic.twitter.com/fIymakZ44G
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) July 14, 2023
Departmental spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana clarified that the group of nurses was brought in contractually, to deal with the spate of patient admissions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The contracts of other medical professionals, including pharmacists hired for this purpose, also came to an end, he confirmed.
He said contracts were extended last year, as the department was dealing with a measles outbreak, and that the nurses were paid through national grants.
Employees were appointed across all healthcare facilities 2019 and claim that they are still accommodated in the budget for the rest of the financial year, and should therefore still be in service.
“There is money for us! We want our jobs!” pic.twitter.com/xyOoQRrQAG
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) July 14, 2023
Last Monday, the EFF vowed to join the demonstration this week, demanding that among others, all clinics operate 24 hours per day.
“We will also call for the increase of nurses at clinics and hospitals,” party chairperson Tshilidzi Maraga commented.
In March, the department appointed over 300 professional nurses and brought in close to 300 community service nurses, according to Shikwambana.
He says currently there are 1 200 vacant positions that need to be filled, but the department has not been able to fill those posts as it awaits funds from national Treasury.
