Community health workers, hospital facility assistants and members of the Covid-19 brigades initiated a go-slow this week, demanding permanent employment from the Northern Cape Department of Health.
COMMUNITY health workers, hospital facility assistants and members of the Covid-19 brigades embarked on a go-slow this week as they demand to be absorbed by the Northern Cape Department of Health.
According to a memorandum of demands, Nehawu, PSA, Denosa and Hospersa members will “close down the department” if advertised vacancies are not immediately withdrawn and advertised internally.
They are also calling for the cancellation of all non-critical post appointments.
Workers pointed out that they were expected to “do the dirty work” while they were only receiving measly stipends of R3,500.
“The hospital grounds are clean because of us. We are reporting for duty even when we don’t get paid. This is a tertiary hospital and our concerns are not being taken seriously.”
They called for workers to be paid directly by the department.
“Non-governmental organisations are paid millions of rand by the department, while workers are struggling to obtain what is due to them,” they said.
Nehawu branch chairperson Michael Sebotse said eight posts were advertised including for a porter, cleaners and a patient driver.
“This is while there are over 120 community health-care workers, hospital facility assistants and Covid-19 brigade workers who have been working for nine years on contract with no benefits. Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital is chronically understaffed and cannot function optimally.’
He added that a 60-year-old groundsman, who was on the verge of retirement, had 12 years of service with the department while only earning a stipend.
The acting head of the department, Mxolisi Mlatha, explained that posts could only be advertised if there was an available budget.
“The posts must be approved by the Treasury and the Office of the Premier. The budget does not allow for the absorption of workers. We will shoot ourselves in the foot if we only advertise vacancies internally as their names are already captured on the Persal system and they will not qualify to apply for any position,” he pointed out.
