Several government services in the Northern Cape came to a standstill this week as members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union embarked on a strike, demanding a 10% wage increase.
SEVERAL government services in the Northern Cape came to a standstill this week as members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) embarked on a strike, demanding a 10% wage increase.
Members of Nehawu went on strike on Monday and communities across the country were denied access to several services or entrance to facilities such as hospitals, clinics and other government departments.
In the Northern Cape several government departments had to close their doors after falling victim to angry Nehawu members who barricaded the entrances to some buildings with rubble and burning tyres.
The Northern Cape Department of Health said that health facilities in the Frances Baard District were the worst affected.
Department spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo said they are in the process of diffusing the situation at some health facilities.
“The most affected health facilities were in the Sol Plaatje sub-district in Frances Baard. Certain facilities, mainly in the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) District, had sporadic incidents of protests. The Kagisho Community Health Centre in JTG is still not operational as workers are still burning tyres at the entrance, prohibiting staff and patients from accessing the premises.
“In other districts, such as ZF Mgcawu and Pixley ka Seme, no incidents were reported. The police and other stakeholders are assisting. We are grateful to staff members who diligently provided health care to our patients during these challenging times,” said Mxekezo.
The spokesperson for the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in the Northern Cape, Inno Khunou, said eight provincial offices were affected by the strike action.
Khunou said that several social services, such as the registration of new beneficiaries for social grants could not take place, adding that they were badly affected by the strike action.
“The Sassa offices in the Northern Cape have been adversely affected by the strike action since Monday and regional management had to close all of Sassa’s offices in Kimberley.”
She urged beneficiaries to make use of alternative payment channels to ensure that they have access to their social grants.
“Sassa services will resume once the strike action is over and clients are urged to use alternative payment channels, such as Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers, U-save Spar, OK and ATMs,” she said.
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said operations at the department’s offices were also affected by the strike.
“Members of Nehawu have, since Monday, blockaded all entrances to the provincial office and the Frances Baard, John Taolo Gaetsewe and Pixley ka Seme district offices. Officials were unable to perform their duties as they did not have access to their offices and felt threatened or intimidated by the manner in which some Nehawu members conducted themselves.
“The situation is volatile at this stage and we are not sure when the strike will end,” he said.
The provincial spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, Gamiem Abrahams, said their offices were not affected by the strike.
“There was no significant interruption of services at the Social Development offices and care facilities. The department will keep on delivering services to the vulnerable, poor and those entrusted to our care and protection. We will, however, monitor the situation and react to safeguard lives and property in a manner deemed necessary,” Abrahams said.
Affected community members labelled the striking members as being “insensitive and selfish”.
“We are all going through tough financial times at all our workplaces. It is incomprehensible how officials who are employed in crucial positions, like those in health-care facilities, would so easily abandon their posts to go on strike over an increase.
“There are so many people who need the services of these officials daily and with urgency. Some people are denied access to their chronic medication or medical assistance because some people are more concerned about their bank balance.
“Others were unable to register their children’s birth or even apply for social grants to have something to eat. The people who usually make use of the services offered at government facilities are vulnerable and cannot afford to go to a facility where they would be expected to pay a fee.
“Some of the people who are dependant on these services do not even have half the funds that are in the bank accounts of some of these government workers,” they said.
