Strike disrupts health services
Many patients had to return home empty-handed due to a strike at the Carletonville Hospital and several government clinics this week.
From approximately 05:00 on Monday, members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) started burning tires at the entrance to Carletonville Hospital as part of a national strike over wages.
The entrance to the Carletonville clinic at the former Goldfields Recreation Club in Agnew Road was similarly affected, as were some other clinics in the area.
The protestors refused to let staff and patients enter the facilities.
Many patients voiced their frustration on social media.
“Why can’t the police do something? This is unethical to the patients and the staff who want to do their work! They can go to a rugby field and dance how long they want to without any disruptions,” one resident complained.
Carletonville Hospital’s communication officer, Mr Mathabo Letsoalo, advised patients to avoid the hospital until the strike was resolved.
“We remain open for emergency cases, and EMS will continue.
“Patient safety remains our priority, and we are working on mitigating any risk related to the service delivery disruption as a result of the national strike,” he said.
According to the Gauteng Department of Health’s communication officer, Motalatale Modiba, some other facilities were affected worse than in our area.
At some hospitals, ambulances cannot attend to emergencies as they cannot leave or enter facilities because striking workers have blocked the entrances.
There have also been reports of damage to property, including a car set alight at one of the hospitals elsewhere in the West Rand.
The Department apologised to the community for the strike but noted that there was an interdict against the strike.
Despite this, the protestors were still blocking access to facilities by late Tuesday afternoon, and it was still unclear when the strike would eventually end.
