Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
03 October 2024
Evander, Mpumalanga – The National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) held a picket outside Evander Hospital on Thursday, 3 October 2024, to mark the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) commemoration. The gathering aimed to raise awareness about the critical challenges faced by workers at the hospital and deliver a memorandum listing a series of pressing grievances.
A key concern addressed by Nehawu was the unresolved case of Mr. Samson Nkosi, an employee who went missing last year while on duty in a state vehicle that allegedly lacked a tracking device. This incident has drawn sharp criticism towards the hospital’s management, as it was revealed that 33 state vehicles, including a water tanker, have been stolen across Mpumalanga, raising questions about the hospital’s vehicle safety measures.
During the picket, Nehawu’s Second Deputy President, Patrick Babsy Makhafane, expressed outrage over the lack of accountability. “According to labour laws, employers are obligated to ensure a safe and conducive work environment. It is unacceptable that an employee can go missing for almost a year while on duty, without any decisive action from the hospital or authorities,” Makhafane said. He further called for those responsible for vehicle management to be held accountable for providing unroadworthy vehicles to workers.
Grievances Highlighted
The memorandum presented to delegates from the Premier’s office detailed 13 key demands, reflecting a broad range of issues impacting both staff and patient safety at the hospital. Among the demands were:
- Severe staff shortages: The hospital is operating at only 51% of its employment capacity, leaving a 49% shortfall across all departments.
- Unaddressed maintenance issues: For two years, leaking bathrooms have gone unrepaired, creating unhygienic conditions.
- Insourcing of security personnel: Nehawu called for the insourcing of all security staff currently outsourced.
- Dangerous infrastructure: The hospital lacks doors between key wards, including the male and pediatric wards, exposing employees and patients to safety risks, particularly at night.
- Full report on missing employee: The union demanded a full report on the whereabouts of the missing Mr. Thabi Nkosi.
- Water challenges: Due to water shortages in the area, Nehawu called for the installation of a borehole on hospital premises.
- Psychiatric care: The union demanded the establishment of a fully staffed special ward for psychiatric patients by November 2024.
- Overtime payments: Delays in overtime payments to patient transport personnel and EMS workers must be addressed immediately.
- Permanent employment: Nehawu called for contract employees to be permanently employed to ensure job security.
- Nurse’s home: The construction of a nurse’s home within the hospital facility was also a priority in the memorandum.
- Vehicle safety: All state vehicles must be equipped with tracking devices to prevent further thefts.
- Proper placement of transferred staff: Two employees transferred from the TB hospital should be appropriately placed within Evander Hospital or the CMTC (Training Center).
- Staff replacement: The union demanded the replacement of retired and resigned staff to ease workload pressures.
The event drew support from various stakeholders, including South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, Solly Mapaila, who delivered a message of solidarity. “We stand with Nehawu in calling for improved working conditions and greater accountability from hospital management,” Mapaila said.
Next Steps
Delegates from the office of the Premier of Mpumalanga received the memorandum and are expected to address these issues in the coming weeks. However, Nehawu has indicated that failure to meet these demands could lead to further action.
With the hospital already grappling with severe staff shortages and infrastructure failures, the outcome of these negotiations could have a significant impact on the quality of healthcare services in Evander and the surrounding areas.
Nehawu remains firm in its stance, calling for swift and decisive action to ensure that the rights of workers and the safety of patients are upheld. As the union continues to advocate for change, the community awaits a response from provincial authorities on the way forward.
