WATCH: Chaos erupts at Joburg Gen as striking gets out of control

According to a witness, “doctors are not being allowed to work. All exits have been blocked. The situation is untenable”.

There have been additional reports of staff riots, locked wards people locked in the basement.

We have now received information that the protests are being led by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), who say workers are protesting a long-pending dispute, allegedly over unpaid performance bonuses. They say the hospital has made several empty promises regarding payment.

Nehawu claim that no critical services at the hospital are being affected by the strike. However, the gate is barricading as hundreds of staff protest outside, and many have reported that the hospital has almost come to a standstill.

According to reports from people at the hospital, both patients and non-protesting staff have been threatened by the protesters.

The M&G Bhekisisa Twitter account has said: “Staff at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital have contacted Bhekisisa with reports that a man with a gun was seen inside. The Gauteng health department cannot confirm this and cautions it may have been a police officer.”

The account has also tweeted: “Department officials have characterised the situation at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital as being ‘out of control’ and say police have been called to the scene”.

Attempts to reach both the hospital and the Gauteng Health Department have so far been unsuccessful.

We will be keeping an eye on the situation, and will continue to provide new information as we receive it.