Pretoria – Owing to the ongoing unlawful strike by the City of Tshwane employees, who are members of the SA Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), several clinics have been closed including FF Ribeiro, Folang, Rosslyn, Karenpark, Lyttelton, and Hercules.
Rina Marx MMC for Health on Tuesday reminded the striking municipal workers that access to healthcare services was a basic human right highlighted under Section 27 of the Constitution.
The City of Tshwane has declared the strike unlawful and at the weekend it secured a court interdict against the labour action.
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Marx said the Constitution states that everyone has the right to have access to healthcare services.
“Therefore, as the MMC responsible for Health in the City of Tshwane, I want to make it clear to employees who have embarked on this unprotected strike action that you are all endangering the lives of innocent patients who need critical medical services,” Marx said.
The MMC said the unprotected strike by SAMWU has resulted in:
The intimidation of staff and patients. Some staff continue to receive direct threats not to open clinics.
Forced closure of some of the clinics administered by the City of Tshwane. During the course of last week, the Lyttelton, Folang, FF Ribeiro, Hercules, Karenpark and Rosslyn Clinics were forced to close.
Patients are being denied access to primary healthcare services and medication.
Processes are being put in place to assist clinic staff with trauma counselling.
“Of concern is that, despite the court order interdicting the strike action, several clinics continue to close due to security concerns,” said Marx.
Marx said health department staff were doing their best to ensure business continuity where possible.
“Staff and patients are being redirected to clinics that are operating normally,” said Marx.
“I have also requested the deployment of the Tshwane Metro Police Department to affected clinics.
“While we remain sensitive to the plight of our employees, I want to stress that no person should be denied access to healthcare.”
The City warned that from Monday it would implement a no-work no-pay policy.
However, SAMWU has continued with the strike to demand wage increases.
