News24 reports that after a public outcry coupled with protest action, the Eastern Cape health department has sourced R400 million to keep 8,000 Covid-19 contract workers employed for the next three months and community workers for another 12 months.

The contracts of the frontline workers were due to end on Wednesday, but with the funding obtained, the Covid-19 contract workers will be able to work for three more months and the community health workers for 12 months. The decision to extend the contracts was taken after a technical team led by Eastern Cape Department of Health acting Superintendent-General Dr Sibongile Zungu made recommendations to Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth. This came after Premier Oscar Mabuyane, Meth, Finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko and representatives of the affected workers met earlier this month to discuss how best to handle the matter, which had sparked an uproar. MEC Meth said with the third wave of Covid-19 infections expected to hit SA soon, the province needed all hands on deck. Meth added: “This is why we need to renew their contracts so that they will continue what they have been doing and help us to reduce the spread of the virus. We would love to permanently employ all of them, but the truth is that we just don't have the budget. This is largely because of medico-legal claims, which we are working tirelessly to address.” The Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) welcomed the extension of the workers’ contracts.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24

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