POLOKWANE – The Department of Health has maintained that it will not lift the suspension of seven healthcare workers attached to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital.
Prior, a multiple-hour long discussion took place between union representatives and that of the department and hospital management last Monday.
Six Nehawu and one Nupsaw branch members protested at the hospital on May 29, demanding answers as to a document that was circulated by an anonymous source, that focuses on apparent irregularities around recruitment and selection at the hospital.
As a result, all seven workers received suspension letters for 60 days, for disrupting normal operations at the institution in what management says was an illegal protest.
Departmental spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana says the unions’ plea to have the employees back at work failed, as there is a need to investigate who was responsible for participating and inciting employees, and the violence that resulted during the protest which led to the disruption of services and keeping patients from accessing public service healthcare.
“There are allegations that people blocked corridors and wards, while making demands to see management. If there is dissatisfaction, workers are more than welcome to take it up with the department through the official channels. Until the investigations are done, management has opted to suspend them with full pay.”
Meanwhile, Limpopo Nehawu Secretary, Moses Maubane questioned the timing of the suspensions.
“These suspensions came at a time when some people exposed the untoward way in which interview processes occur at the hospital, and the alleged involvement of senior officials. Our shop stewards and members have been at the forefront of exposing the rot and now they have become the target of a witch-hunt.”
Asked for comment on the details and authenticity of the circulated document, which Polokwane Observer has a copy of, Shikwambana said no official request has been received for an investigation into the damning allegations.
“The department cannot launch an investigation based on an external document, when no one had brought it forth.”
By Tuesday afternoon, he said that he had received the document and it was ” receiving attention” . This, despite one of the suspended worker’s claims that a copy of the document had been sent to a senior official at the hospital, by May 26.
Shikwambana maintained that the official in question, whose identity is withheld at this point, was not aware of the alleged communication.
