Health workers shut down clinics

WHILE clinics across Kimberley were yesterday brought to a complete standstill by striking community health workers (CHW), who threatened that by today “not a single clinic in the city would be open”, the Northern Cape Department of Health has indicated that it is “unaware of any strike action”.

More than 200 CHWs yesterday shut the doors at clinics in Roodepan, Galeshewe, Phutanang and Greenpoint and prevented nurses from entering, while burning tyres and protesting outside the facilities.

They are demanding a minimum wage of R3 500 per month, as well as backpay of R1 000 per month, from June. The workers are currently earning salaries of R2 500 per month, which had by yesterday (payday) not been paid.

The protests were sparked by a meeting held between the MEC for Health, Fufe Makatong, and CHWs in Kimberley on Wednesday.

The workers yesterday stated that while they were expecting answers from Makatong regarding their minimum wage, backpay and “constant late payment of salaries”, the MEC “insulted them” when she refused to take and answer questions after addressing the meeting.

They have now vowed to keep all clinics in Kimberley closed until their salaries and backpay have been paid and the minimum wage is implemented.

“By Friday (today) we will force all clinics in Kimberley to close and we will keep them closed indefinitely - or until our demands are met,” the workers said.

They are planning to also shut down the Beaconsfield, Floors, Platfontein and Kimberley clinics today.

The South African Liberated Public Sector Workers Union (Salipswu) provincial organiser, Thapelo Thole, said yesterday that while the CHWs expected a “positive engagement” with Makatong during the meeting, she instead “undermined them in her approach” when she refused to take questions or supply any answers to their issues.

“Makatong was expected to address the workers on salary and pay issues but she refused. The workers became angry and decided to embark on this protest action, that will see every single clinic in Kimberley closed until their demands are met,” Thole said.

He added that the CHWs would today “join forces” with local EPWP workers in taking to the streets and demanding the R3 500 minimum wage.

Thole concluded by saying that the minimum wage issue was “non-negotiable”.

“The minimum wage agreement has already been signed and announced by the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, and we are now calling for the implementation. The CHWs want nothing further to do with Makatong, and have now called on the Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, to intervene,” Thole said.

Spokesperson for the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Thoko Riet, said that it was “unfortunate” that the public had to suffer as a result of the protests by the CHWs.

“We have deployed security at some of our clinics to avoid unnecessary damage to property and because the CHWs have used their own locks to lock the doors, our staff don’t have access to any of the clinics. Thus we have asked our maintenance section to install new locks for all entrances to municipal clinics.

“We hope that the MEC for Health intervenes so that we can go back and assist our communities the best way we possibly can. We regret the inconvenience and hope they can come to an agreement that benefits all parties,” Riet said.

Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson, Lebogang Majaha, said that the MEC’s office was “not aware of any strike action by CHWs in Kimberley because Makatong concluded her roadshow with the Frances Baard district on Wednesday”.

“If indeed these allegations are true we, as a department, will have no other choice but to enforce the law,” Majaha said.

“Makatong’s next approach is to engage with labour unions to finalise the implementation plan of the signed resolution 1 of 2018: (Agreement of standardisation of remuneration for community health care workers in the Department of Health), before the end of October 2018. All details will be released in the form of a joint media statement with labour unions in due course,” Majaha concluded.