LISTEN: Violence at Charlotte Maxeke could have been prevented, says DA
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says the Gauteng Department of Health should have prevented the chaos at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital on Thursday.
Workers affiliated with the National Health Education and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) went on a rampage, blocking entrances and trashing the hospital demanding the department pay outstanding bonuses.
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But the DA’s Jack Bloom says the strike didn’t start on Thursday.
“There were signs earlier in the week that violence by disgruntled workers was brewing, which included tyre burning and blocked entrances on Wednesday. Police should surely have been on standby at the hospital on Thursday as it was likely the violence would intensify”.
Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, described Thursday’s events as pure hooliganism.
Bloom says the government did not keep its promises to workers.
“And once again, Premier David Makhura’s much-vaunted war room failed to pick up clear warning signs and intervene early both to address the worker grievances and to prevent further vandalism at the hospital. Following the trashing of the hospital at the end of April, Makhura made promises that workers would receive their bonus pay, but the delay in doing this led to the deplorable disruption this week.”