The Mpumalanga Department of Health issued a statement on Monday March 13 to say there will be delays in the payments to service providers due to the labour unrest due to Nehawu.
The department’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, said, “Be informed that the department is facing a labour unrest from organised labour, and this has grossly affected operations in processing invoices and other related supply chain processes. The department requests that service providers continue to render services to all our service points to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services to the people of Mpumalanga.”
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The department is not the only facility affected by Nehawu’s strike. Community members who visited the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour went home without receiving any services. Tonga Hospital in Nkomazi and Rob Ferreira Hospital’s patients were also affected. Last week the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court had to stop proceedings, although it is operational again now.
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In a statement released on March 13, the minister of health, Dr Joe Phaahla, said the Labour Appeal Court ordered Nehawu to inform its members of the strike interdict or face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, a Nehawu member in Mbombela that chose to remain anonymous, said the strike would continue until their demands are met. “We were protesting this morning [Tuesday] and we continue again tomorrow. We are not planning to stop today, we are just done for the day. The only workers who can proceed with work are those who work at health facilities and courts, the rest will continue with the strike. They have an interdict from the court that allows them to work.”
