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Hospital strike draws blood
07/11/2006 20:39 - (SA)
Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane, Zinkie Sithole and Walter ka Nkosi
Nelspruit - The illegal strike that led to a clash between strikers and the police at Rob Ferreira Hospital here on Monday is a reflection of a breakdown in health care in Mpumalanga, said provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance Clive Hatch on Tuesday.
The state claims that many ill patients, and those seeking urgent medical attention, were prevented from entering the premises. Only ambulances were allowed through.
During the blockade, a mother who brought her 14-year-old daughter for medical attention was pulled out of her car. Her face was injured in the attack.
Hatch said: "We are extremely concerned because this is the second violent incident at the same hospital in a short time.
"Just last month, we saw a madman killing patients and endangering the lives of others," said Hatch.
He called on health and social development MEC Pogisho Pasha to secure the hospital and arrange for patients who were turned away during the strike on Monday, to get free transport back to the hospital.
The strikers are members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).
Want matter resolved urgently
The union has held repeated marches, demanding that head of department, superintendent-general Confidence Moloko, be dismissed.
Hatch said the DA wanted the matter to be resolved transparently and as a matter of urgency.
"Our interest in this matter is the safety, security and health-care of patients," said Hatch.
Provincial government spokesperson Lebona Mosia said Premier Thabang Makwetla, Nehawu leaders and health officials were meeting on Tuesday and would release a statement afterwards.
Five unionists accused of barricading the entrance to the hospital on Monday, and beating a woman and damaging her car appeared briefly in court on Tuesday.
They were not asked to plead to charges of public violence, common assault and malicious damage to property and the case was postponed to November 29 for further investigation.
Abdul Mathebula and Jane Phangane of KaBokweni, Vusi Mathunjwa of Barberton, Bernard Sihlabela of Shabalala and Christina Masinga of KaNyamazane were released on warning.
Nehawu has accused Moloko of failing to pay overtime, fill vacant posts and provide bridging courses.
Threatened with disciplinary action
Nehawu also claims that Moloko is to blame for the resignation of two chief executives who administered the province's four biggest hospitals, including Rob Ferreira.
Provincial Nehawu secretary December Manana said the CEO for the Rob Ferreira Hospital, Themba Hospital and Shongwe Hospital cluster, as well as the CEO of Witbank Hospital resigned after being threatened with disciplinary action for telling staff that Moloko had not yet approved certain documents.
Manana said: "We can confirm that six other senior managers are serving their notices and leaving our province because of the ill treatment being dished out by Moloko."
- African Eye
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