OFM News reports that increasing attacks on emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and poor working conditions in the Free State came under the spotlight when hundreds of EMS workers took their frustrations to the streets of Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
The protesters, who marched from the Free State Psychiatric Hospital to the premier’s office, claimed that their calls for better working conditions, salary increments, payment of overdue overtime, and complaints over unfair dismissals have consistently fallen on deaf ears. The group, represented by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) and trade union federation Cosatu, lambasted the provincial health department for failing to take action on their demands. They said they wanted premier Sisi Ntombela to take immediate action and redress their issues. The unions have vowed to halt medical services in the province should their demands in their memorandum not be met. The provincial government said it would respond to the demands within seven working days.
- Read the full original of the above report by Katleho Morapela at The Citizen
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