The Mpumalanga Department of Health says it has seen a video of a female doctor made by the National, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).
The doctor was performing work for a major health care facility at the Buffelshoek Clinic in Bushbuckridge last week, when he was welcomed by members of Nehawu.
The video shows the striking workers demanding they remove the video even though they told them they didn’t have permission to go there. However, it is not clear which video the attackers were referring to.
Watch the video that the doctor did
The doctor was arrested
At one point, the video shows workers holding their legs as they grab their desks.
The workers succeeded in removing him from the office.
Department spokesman Chris Nobela confirmed the incident.
“We are looking at the video and are busy with the investigation to find out what happened.”
Nobela said the attack was seen in all health facilities in the province.
“Some people have been intimidated, but others have been allowed to do so [enter the health facility].”
Also read: WATCH: Striking Nehawu workers meet match at Westbury
The attack is intensive
Nehawu vowed to expand the public service strike until his demands are met by the government after union leaders held a media briefing on Sunday, regarding the collapsed wage negotiations.
Union-affiliated public servants have been staging nationwide protests since last Monday, over a wage dispute with the government.
The union demanded a 10% wage increase, while the government offered 4.7%.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health said operations at health facilities are still affected by the low number of employees.
Death from attack
Minister Joe Phaahla last week, on Friday, linked the death of at least four patients to the attack, saying they were denied access to some emergency facilities.
“Most hospitals now rely on volunteers from concerned NGOs and local community members, working with senior officials from district, provincial and national health offices for cleaning and general admin support.”
Minister Phaahla has noted the declaration by Nehawu on Sunday, to expand the strike action, with disappointment.
The SANDF was deployed
On Monday, the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) was stationed at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus, while Health Minister Joe Phaahla visited the facility.
The disruption left South Africans unable to access health services as protesters blocked patients, doctors and health workers from entering the facilities.
Last week, residents of Westbury and its surrounding area evicted striking workers from one of the entrances to the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, saying they vandalized the premises as they barricaded the road with stones and burning tyres.
Also read: Nehawu vows to expand public sector strike