Gauteng strong enough to handle a health strike, assures MEC
Acting Gauteng Health MEC Jacob Mamabolo believes the department would be able to handle the looming strike by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu).
Union affiliated workers at the National Health Laboratories Service (NHLS) are unhappy with government’s refusal to increase public servants’ salaries and a failure to offer adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
The NHLS has since obtained a Labour Court interdict, declaring the strike illegal.
But Nehawu is appealing the court ruling.
Mamabolo says the threats of the massive strike by the union comes at an unfortunate time, and while the province remains the epicentre of South Africa’s Covid-19 pandemic.
He visited the Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital in Jubilee in Soweto on Thursday morning, where he told the media that one person off-duty would harm the operations at the NHLS.
"When the challenges arise, we should be able to communicate to patients and the members of the public and we will issue guidance on how the matter should be handled.
"But at this point we do not have indications that concerns us, but as and when it happens we will be able to manage it at that point," adds Mamabolo.
