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GroundUp reports that on Tuesday Gauteng community health care workers blocked entrances to the Department of Health building on Thabo Sehume Street in Tshwane.
They barricaded the main gate with stones and branches of trees. “We are tired of being ignored … They are taking us for fools,” a protester shouted. The workers were demanding to see Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who was not in the building. Later, security personnel pepper-sprayed some of the workers, who hurled insults in return and shut the gates. At issue was the one-year fixed term contract currently being distributed to community health care workers. Two weeks ago the workers protested over the contracts at the Department of Health in Johannesburg and officials promised a reply within a week, but it did not materialise. Tshepo Masego from Simunye clinic in Ekurhuleni, said: “We completed all training under the department … We want to earn R10,500, which is a living wage. We should earn the same as other nurses. We will continue fighting until things become right.” Meanwhile dozens of community health care workers from around Pretoria filled the Department of Health Tshwane District Office at the corner of Lilian Ngoyi and Pretorius streets. Many of them have been out of work since refusing to sign contracts in 2016. A departmental spokesperson said they would respond on Wednesday.
- Read the full original of Kimberly Mutandiro’s report on the protest at GroundUp
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page