Update: Protesting staff continue to trash Rob Ferreira Hospital
In a yesterday's report it was unconfirmed whether or not Dr Leif Brauteseth was assaulted by the mob or not. In an interview with the victim himself, it came to light that allegations of his assault were in fact true to some degree.
MBOMBELA – More than 60 staff members of Rob Ferreira Hospital, including members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) are still not back at work.
Although the entrances are open and ambulances have access to the hospital, protesting employees have proceeded to empty trash cans and spreading the content. One rubbish container was set alight, causing thick clouds of smoke.
The protest action on this day was seemingly addressed and calmed. However, yesterday the situation at the hospital deteriorated and strikers voiced out their frustrations in what became increasingly violent.
In a yesterday’s report it was unconfirmed whether or not Dr Leif Brauteseth was assaulted by the mob or not. In an interview with the victim himself, it came to light that allegations of his assault were in fact true to some degree. He sustained a head injury while trying to move a log out of the way. In the process, some of the protesters tried to prevent him from doing so and pushed the log back to where it had initially blocked the entrance gate to the hospital. In the scuffle, Brauteseth lost his footing and hit his head against the log and had to receive six stitches.
The strike was a result of staff members’ anger at the apparent lack of uniforms, cleaning aids, overtime, computers and medication. According to strikers on the scene, the mortuary only works sporadically and bodies have apparently started decomposing. Earlier this year, another protest took place with the same issues at its core, but due to cost curtailments, new uniforms could not be ordered.
“We were promised supplies two months ago and still haven’t received anything. The hospital is dirty and nurses are treating patients in their private clothes.”
At first, it was said that phones had been confiscated to prevent strikers from contacting the media. But when Lowvelder arrived at the scene, the paper was invited inside the premises to be informed of the current situation, while patients, medical personnel and the SAPS watched the spectacle unfold.
Provincial Department of Health spokesman, Mr Dumisani Malamule confirmed the reasons behind the strike. “The department had earlier promised to procure and make the uniforms available before the end of October 2014. However, there was a delay in the procurement processes because the team that was tasked to handle it, was changed as part of supply chain’s staff rotation,” said Malamule.
He added that when another took over they discovered some discrepancies in the above processes and the process had to start afresh. This again caused a delay. “The department has moved with speed to finalise the processes which are now waiting for final approval. Once this is done, a service provider will be appointed to work on the uniforms. With regard to the mortuary, the allegations are not true as it is functioning properly,” he concluded.
According to Capt Dawie Pretorius, spokesman for Mbombela police, the protesters were addressed and informed of their strike’s illegality on Friday. “In an orderly fashion, they relocated their strike and the gates were opened around lunch time,” said Pretorius. But yesterday was much different. Unconfirmed rumours stated that the hospital had been set alight. However, it has been confirmed that the entrance to the hospital had been barricaded with burning logs and rubbish. No fire was reported at the hospital.
