VEREENIGING.- The African National Congress (ANC) in Sedibeng and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have had their say in the dilemma concerning the Gauteng Department of Health and the Sedibeng HIV/Aids ward-based educators.
This is after more than a hundred Sedibeng HIV/Aids ward-based educators slept in front of the gates of the offices of the Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) in Vereeniging last Wednesday in demand of their contracts to be renewed. They also demanded to speak to SDM Mayor Lerato Maloka and the Municipal Manager (MM) Motsumi Mathe about their ‘crisis’.
The contracts of the Ward Based Educators ended on June 31, and the workers were told that they would not be renewed. However, the workers said that they are in possession of a letter of ‘absorption’ that was signed by former Gauteng Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku, and that the letter states that they would be intergrated and employed directly by the Gauteng Department of Health as Community Health Workers on a Level 2 notch at the end of 2020, and they would report to the District Health Services.
Last Thursday, the workers were notified by officials from SDM that they (the officials) were in a meeting trying to resolve the issue and promised to meet them later that day, however, the meeting did not take place. ANC Sedibeng Regional Secretary Jason Mkhwane told Sedibeng Ster that they (ANC Sedibeng) have asked the SDM to resolve the matter.
On the other hand, EFF Sedibeng Chairperson, Isaac Kithika, said that they are concerned about the workers as they service the needy in the community who need care directly or indirectly affected by HIV/Aids.
“We want the municipal manager, Mr Mathe to expedite this process (permanent employment) by making sure that contracts are ready and the workers know where they stand. We also want the workers to get their backpay from July 1.”
An enquiry sent to the SDM about the matter was not responded to at the time of going to print.
