SABC News reports on a picket staged by healthcare workers affiliated with the Public Servants Association (PSA) outside the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi, south of Durban, on Monday.
The workers were complaining about poor working conditions and claimed that the hospital had been without water for two weeks, which affected hygiene and patient care. According to the workers, the hospital was also facing a critical shortage of medication. PSA provincial manager Mlungisi Ndlovu said the provincial Department of Health (DoH) has not taken any action to address their concerns. “For this reason, we call upon Human Rights Commission to investigate the situation, the MEC to be involved. We’ve attended this matter for more than three times, in 2023, 2024, now it’s 2025,” Ndlovu indicated. Patients too called on the DoH to address what they said was a looming humanitarian disaster at the hospital. “The reason why I am complaining is because there is no water and there is shortage of nurses and doctors. Toilets inside are smelling and are closer to where children are seated while waiting for the nurses to attend them. So, the toilets are closed because there’s no water,” one patient complained. “The situation here is not good at all in this hospital,” another patient added.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khalesakhe Mbhense at SABC News
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