Day of action – Nehawu to call for Health MEC’s head

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) in Limpopo is preparing for a provincial day of action in pursuance of the workers’ demands which is scheduled for next Friday.
It was revealed during a press briefing at the union’s provincial office on Monday that a members’ march will be directed towards the Department of Health, Provincial Treasury and Office of the Premier to demand the removal of Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba and Head of Department, Peter Kgaphole.
Nehawu Provincial Secretary, Jacob Adams stated that the decision to take action follows their recent Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) conference where they noted that deteriorating working conditions of public servants in the province have started to eat the wages of workers.
“The PEC also noted the deepening crisis affecting the health care system in Limpopo as a result of lack of leadership. Almost all health institutions are at a point of collapse and the society is slowly losing confidence in public health system while workers are pushed to a point of desperation because of unfavourable working conditions,” Adams said.
Nehawu alleges that Ramathuba is more focused on media hype than engaging in real transformation of the health care system which is reportedly rotten to the core. Adams emphasised that the union will be engaging with Premier Stan Mathabatha to redeploy Ramathuba. The union further demands the department pays workers performance bonuses for 2016/17 financial year amounting to R164 million instead of limiting the budget to R90 million as allegedly proposed by the department.
It was reported that health professionals were picketing at Pietersburg Provincial Hospital and Mankweng Hospital on Tuesday before proceeding to Health headquarters as they demanded performance bonuses. Department of Health spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana is yet to comment on the matter.

Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za