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Gauteng government takes legal action on strikers
“ We have many NGOs and NPOs that provide critical care to the aged, children and people with disabilities complaining to us that many of their Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) have not been signed because we have just entered a new financial year. Who then will provide such essential services to vulnerable citizens of Gauteng?” asked the MEC.
SEDIBENG.- Gauteng Department of Social Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza has called for legal and criminal proceedings against workers as the national social worker’s strike turns violent.
The MEC urged the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) to intervene as scores of non-striking employees were being attacked. She said scores have been injured since last Wednesday with one admitted to the intensive care. State vehicles in the province were also set alight and faeces thrown at offices.
In a hard-hitting letter to NEHAWU’s Provincial Secretary Tshepo Mokheranyana, Mayathula-Khoza did not mince her words.
“The Department wishes to draw your attention to the fact that legal action will be taken by laying charges for criminal offences which will lead the arrest of staff members. In addition, the Department will institute disciplinary action against staff for misconduct. The department will further explore any other measures within the law to protect the lives of the staff and the vulnerable beneficiaries.
“It should be noted further that this conduct of the Nehawu strikers does not fall within the ambit of a protected strike.
“It has now become apparent that the strike is taking a toll on both our striking and non-striking workers. Desperation is creeping in and criminality also comes along it. This is unacceptable. I think the Union leadership must urgently intervene to deal with criminal tendencies that are now taking over the strike,” Mayathula-Khoza said.
She said staff members were sprayed with tear gas inside buildings and that staff members had been forcefully removed from the workplace and/or denied access to essential service centres such Child and Youth Care Centres and Service points.
“ We have many NGOs and NPOs that provide critical care to the aged, children and people with disabilities complaining to us that many of their Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) have not been signed because we have just entered a new financial year. Who then will provide such essential services to vulnerable citizens of Gauteng?” asked the MEC.
The MEC said she was sympathetic to the workers’ plight and was unhappy with the fact that negotiations were dragging. She, however, said acts of criminality and extreme intimidation such as non-striking employees being followed to their homes and threatened was unjustified.
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