Initial reports indicate that the deaths of at least four people may be linked to the wage strike led by the National, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), health minister Joe Phaahla said on Thursday.
During a media briefing held at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, Phaaahla said there were deaths “directly from the attack” but this would only be confirmed after receiving the final joint report.
“I am not at liberty at this stage to discuss the matter, but we will seek legal advice today or tomorrow,” he said.
He said the health department was working on plans to restore normal health services in affected hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape and Gauteng, which he described as “hit” by the worst of the attacks.
Phaahla said no one in need of emergency treatment should be turned away from health facilities, as was the case during the strike. He insisted that for striking nurses, the policy was “no work, no pay”.
On Wednesday evening, Phaahla and Gauteng health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko held a media briefing after assessing the effects of the attack on a hospital north of Johannesburg.
Here he first discussed the alleged victims, although the exact number was not available.
Phaahla described the disruption caused by the protests as “painful”, saying there were “reports of serious misconduct by staff members” that would be handed over to the South African Police for investigation.
“In these circumstances, it is not surprising that there are reports of South Africans who have died, who died directly as a result of the attack. We will follow up on this [allegations of deaths]. There have also been reports of serious misconduct and violence against other staff members which I will not deal with until we have more details,” he said Wednesday.
Earlier in the same day, the Johannesburg labor court granted Gauteng’s health department an injunction that would prevent Nehawu members from disrupting health services during the strike.
“The South African Police Service has been ordered to take all necessary steps to enforce the interim ban including removing and evicting anyone obstructing the service from the property and premises of the Gauteng health department. The ban will remain in effect until the court’s return date of 20 April 2023,” he said. the department said on Wednesday.
This is the second prohibition. The first was submitted by the department of public services and administration. The union was banned from striking but on Monday Nehawu issued a statement saying it would appeal the ban. Members downed tools earlier in the day after rejecting a 10% pay rise request by the health department, which had offered 4.7%.
“After the national union filed for leave to appeal the court order banning our strike, the department of public services and administration rushed to the court to file for the execution of the order. The matter was heard today at 09H00 and the verdict was handed down at 14H00. The union then launched an appeal in the labor appeals court,” said Nehawu.