Striking union members disrupt FS hospitals

Public servants belonging to the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) in the Free State continued disrupting services at selective hospitals in the province in pursuit of wage increases. Disruptions by striking workers began yesterday and affected the health services of at least four hospitals. The provincial Department of Health lamented that services at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein were severely affected yesterday. Members of the union had closed off all entrances to the hospital in question. This led to the police acting, dispersing striking workers, and arresting three persons. Hundreds of patients, nurses and doctors were denied access to the hospital premises since the early morning while others returned home in the event the strike intensified.Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson of the department, said incidents of disruptions and intimidation of on-duty staff prevailed at major hospitals, adding that police have been deployed to maintain law and order. “At Pelonomi the situation is still tense. Services were severely affected at the hospital since yesterday. At the Universitas Academic Hospital they initially blocked all entrances but willing workers and patients were allowed after negotiations by the management,” said Mvambi.He said striking workers continued picketing in an orderly manner at the Fezi Ngubentombi District Hospital in Sasolburg, the Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad and Bongani Hospital in Welkom. Mvambi said striking workers continued barricading entrances at the Manapo Hospital in Qwaqwa, while threats were thwarted by security at the National Hospital.