POLOKWANE – Some members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in Limpopo say they intend to call for Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba to resign if she fails to adequately address long-standing provincial state worker issues – with the grievances of Great North Transport (GNT) employees at the forefront.

This follows weeks of demonstrations in October and November, during which former and current GNT workers gathered outside the Provincial Government offices in the city, demanding the pension funds that some have been awaiting for more than 25 years.

Last Tuesday, Nehawu submitted a memorandum of demands, calling for immediate action on the matter.

The union also raised concerns about working conditions for teachers and healthcare workers.

Ramathuba responded by saying that Provincial Government has submitted itself to the mediation process initiated by the South African Human Rights Commission at the request of the GNT employees.

She said the mediation would help government avoid disbursing funds to individuals without proper verification or accountability.

The premier added that the workers’ march was “not in vain,” describing it as a constant reminder of government’s obligation to those it serves, and assuring that their demands would be attended to.

“It is therefore necessary for Nehawu to constantly raise issues from various areas where they operate daily, so that government can act where it may have missed those issues,” she said.

Earlier, Nehawu members also marched to the Department of Health with similar demands.

Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego received the memorandum and committed to respond within 14 days.