ANA reports that the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has warned of an all-out strike if the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government does not “step up in fixing the mess” at the provincial health department.  

The warning was issued by Nehawu’s provincial secretary Phakama Ndunakazi on Thursday at the conclusion of a march in Pietermaritzburg.  “This march is a warning shot to both the department and government to sort out the problems because we are of the view that the department is collapsing.  If nothing is done we will embark on a full-blown strike,” said Ndunakazi.  The areas of concern for the union include inadequate pay to members of the Emergency Medical Rescue Service; the continued use of labour brokers instead of hiring staff on a full-time basis; and hospitals that did not have adequate equipment to treat patients.  Nehawu also expressed concern over maladministration, citing the recent report from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on irregular expenditure as a wake-up call to government.

• Read this report in full at IOL News

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