Patients refused treatment
A sickly woman with swollen feet was refused help by those on strike at Leratong Hospital this morning. A male patient was also turned away
Nehawu members at Leratong hospital this morning got into full swing with their protest action to demand better wages.
They barricaded the entrance with concrete slabs and rocks, thus preventing anyone from entering the premises.
Holding placards written "Ban labour brokers", "No to 6.5%" and "We demand equal medical aid for all employees" were displayed.
They had assembled as early as 6.30am, monitoring any movement of cars with intimidation.
Ambulances were allowed into the hospital only after intervention by the SAPS.
The situation is becoming chaotic and a total shutdown is anticipated later in the day.
AMBULANCE DRIVER THREATENED
At the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, striking health workers stopped an ambulance transporting a patient with breathing problems, SAPA reports.
"We went to [a hospital in] Krugersdorp and we were not allowed in and now I'm here and still, they are not allowing us in. I'm carrying a person who is struggling to breathe," the ambulance driver, who did not want to be named, told reporters.
He said he was scared of the angry protesters.
"They are threatening me."
WATER CANNON USED
Pandemonium broke out outside the hospital when the police brought out a water cannon and sprayed the crowds with water.
Protesters had been blocking off the entrance to the hospital and had also prevented a police car from entering the premises.
The workers retaliated by throwing stones and rubbish at the water cannon.
At the same time, the ambulance, with flashing lights, tried to get access into the hospital. As the police opened the gate for the ambulance, protesters pushed forward and forced the gate closed again.
INTIMIDATION AT JHB HOSPITAL
Cases of intimidation have also been seen at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital.
A SAPA reporter on the scene said protesters, wearing red union t-shirts, blocked the main entrance to the hospital and prevented cars from entering the premises by shouting and warning the drivers to leave.
Petrus Pienaar, 53, who had come to the cardiology clinic, said he witnessed intimidation inside the building. "The strikers went inside and started threatening the people working... the strikers were very aggressive," Pienaar told Sapa.
Barry Botha, 69, was turned away by hospital staff. He said he saw striking workers blocking the exit earlier in the morning when an ambulance tried to leave the premises.
The ambulance eventually managed to get out.
TOO FEW NURSES ON DUTY
Judy Coutinho, who often visits the hospital's paediatric unit with her sickly 11-month-old son, Fabio, said she saw nurses protesting outside, while a skeleton staff was struggling to run operations inside.
Coutinho said the paediatric unit had many patients, while only 3 nurses, who seemed to have been hired to help out during the strike, were working at the unit. "Three nurses for the whole ward is just not enough," she said.
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic hospital came under the spotlight earlier this year after six premature newborn babies died of gastro and families complained that bad nursing services were a contributing factor.
CONCERN OVER BABY DEATHS
Elsewhere in Gauteng, the Natalspruit Hospital reported two baby deaths on Wednesday. "We are not yet certain whether it is due to the strike," said Gauteng health spokesman Mandla Sidu.
- Additional reporting by Sapa
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motsoza
Whey can't the protestors allow those who are willing to work. I think our govt shud quickly end this strike by giving their employees what they are looking. 8.6 percent it is a reasonable increase, nogal!!!Report Abuse
Bgal
Govnt mus do something bout this.we cnt hv ppl dying n being turned away cos dey refuse to pop out money.Report Abuse
Decolonised
Collateral damage, this is what happens when two bulls fight...the grass/the poor will suffer whilst the arrogant government is fiddling! Anyway, le rona re jwalo...come the next elections...we shall have forgotten about all of this! Tsena ke dinnyane. dikgolo di sa tla!Report Abuse
DruzaGp
Yaaaaah da direction on which our gvmnt is heading is very touching ltz hpe genuis lke me cn be gven a chance to be able to guide or implment the new system. *worried* citzn gp*Report Abuse
Objectivist
Unions should be held liable for any damages that are caused during a strike they organise. Any striker that is involved in denying entrance to someone who needs a hospital and that person later dies should be arrested and charged with murder.But, I forgot, government would never do that because if it wasn't for the Unions they would never be able to scrap up enough votes to keep themselves in power. Unions and SACP should split from the alliance and create their own party - that way they can pay the workers whatever they want AND not have to be second class citizens under the ANC boot heel.
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Lelolacius
It's simple scrap the bonuses to the top officials and all the luxuries and pay our children's teachers, nurses and police and GVT stop fooling us it does not have to go this far patient being neglected and pupils in so much unfortunate situation. this is ridiculous if their children were attending gvt schools it was going to be an easy transaction so now that it's not the case ignorance is the order of SA GVT ba pateleng they deserve it considering the attitude some give them BAFENG be lefile divotes and it wa seasy for them why mst it b hard 4 u but easy to apy trips for ppl to go to venezuela and zim and transact tenders 2 one of ur own????Report Abuse
LEEZO
So when people start to die because of the strike who should be blamed? The government, the protesters or the union?Report Abuse