South Africa: Public sector workers protest, demand wage increase

South Africa’s largest public sector workers union continued to protest outside various hospitals across the country on Monday. The protest, including union members in health and education, has run into its second week, with heavy law enforcement on display to monitor the rallies.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union is demanding a 10% wage increase, while the government has offered 4.7%. Protesters have vowed to intensify their action until their demands are met.

Members of the South African Defence Force were also deployed to the Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vasloorus to the east of Johannesburg.

According to the military, medical personnel were deployed to several public hospitals to mitigate the consequences of a strike that the government says has caused several deaths.

“We have received a request from the minister of health to assist in the face of the ongoing strike and to ensure that services operate with minimal disruption,” Phillip Makopo, spokesman for the South African army health service, told AFP.

“Military health practitioners were deployed to hospitals on Wednesday” last week and “will remain there as required,” he said.

South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla said at least four patients had died and that their deaths “can be directly attributed to the strike.”

Last week, strikers blocked access to various hospitals, preventing patients from getting to them.

Joe Phaahla said that the military was also helping to secure access to the hospitals.

On Monday morning, AFP reporters saw four soldiers positioned near the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in southeast Johannesburg, while police officers patrolled the entrance.

The strike affecting several public hospitals began a week ago with a work stoppage by nursing and maintenance staff demanding a 10% pay rise, while the government has only agreed to a 4.7% increase.

On Monday, the courts ordered a halt to the movement, but the strikers continue to observe the strike.

Kindly give us two minute from your time to follow our social handles... Click on social media logo below to follow...Thanks

About Zacnetwork

Zacnetwork
I'm Zaccheaus Adeyemi Ogunwale by name, a computer scientist with multimedia art/lens skills. A CEO of Zacnetwork/Naijatrackz subcidiary of Zac Media House. Zacnetwork ✅ A computer scientist that specialize in blogging, Promotion and Distribution of songs, both in Locals and internation Digital Music Platforms, Also to the Top Website, Instagram, Twitter PR, Broadcasting Audiomark Promotion. NaijaTrackz/Gospelnoise ✅ Specialised in Entertainment platform that provide a unique latest news of celebrities, download of latest musics. Finally, I'm CEO of Zacnetwork.org for 3years,now, expands to naijatrackz.com.ng or gospelnoise.com

Check Also

Princess Kate reveals she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy

0share Facebook0 Twitter0 LinkedIn0 Reddit0 Email0 Kate, Princess of Wales, has released a statement saying …

Leave a Reply

Share via
Send this to a friend