Mail & Guardian reports that trade unions protests have brought the North West to its knees, closing health facilities and forcing hospitals to discharge even the sickest of bedridden patients.  Only Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s resignation will bring an end to the crisis, say union leaders.  

“If the premier steps down, even now, then we can go back to the negotiation table and proceed, and advise our employees," said Motlalepule Ramafoko of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa).  More than a month ago, the nursing union and the National Education Health & Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) embarked on a go-slow that has crippled healthcare in the province.  They are also calling for an end to outsourcing and corruption.  The protest action has now turned into a stay away for many nurses after violent demonstrations erupted in Mahikeng this week.  Denosa fears for their safety.  Ramafoko stated:  “We never made any total shut down.  We were working with a skeleton staff until yesterday when the community decided to take over our strike.  Now the communities are the ones striking.”  Calls for Mahumapelo’s ousting follow revelations that the province awarded R180-million rand in illegal tenders the Gupta-linked company Mediosa for mobile clinics.  On Thursday morning, workers at the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital were phoning families to come collect patients from the hospital wards.  Also, Almost 400 clinics and hospitals are estimated to have no medicines or are running on dangerously low stock levels

• Read this report by Nelisiwe Msomi and view a protest video at Bhekisisa Online
• Read too, Why 95% of medicines are missing at North West clinics, at Bhekisisa Online

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page