Volunteers have been roped in to assist at KwaZulu-Natal child and youth care centres.
This is in light of the national strike by employees belonging to the National Education‚ Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu)‚ that includes social development employees‚ who are demanding more favourable working conditions and an increase in salaries.
Spokesman for the provincial department of social development‚ Ncumisa Ndelu‚ said there have been disruptions at their centres.
“Child and youth care centres are classified as rendering an essential service so by law the strikes there are not protected. So only a few workers are on strike. But where there are issues we have roped in people who have been trained and work in the community to help in the centres with the day-to-day monitoring and activities‚” she said.
Ndelu said of the 73 child and youth care centres in the province‚ eight were state run.
“Only one of the centres has been closed following the killing of a supervisor last week. About 21 children have been moved to other centres‚” she added.
Last week a supervisor at the Excelsior Place of Safety in Pinetown‚ a government organisation that accommodates boys aged 13 to 17‚ was killed. The centre is a short-term residential facility that has an intervention programme intended to help boys awaiting trial.
Head of Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal‚ Nokuthula Khanyile‚ said not all workers were on strike because some understand that they render an essential service and as such continue to report for duty despite the intimidation.
“We have also noted claims that children are going hungry‚ which is a malicious lie. Catering services are outsourced‚ making it impossible for a service provider to go on strike. We believe these rumours are being spread by people who want to cause unnecessary panic‚” said Khanyile.
Sipho Msimango‚ chairman of the Thokoza Kids and Youth Organisation‚ said they have been assisting other facilities sourcing volunteers.
“Our concern is the rights of the children. Our concern now is the transportation of children from one of the facilities to school. Also striking workers not allowing service providers‚ like food deliveries‚ onto the property‚” said Msimango.
The Nehawu strike has been blamed for the death of a six-month-old baby in Gauteng.
The child‚ was among the 90 moved from Walter Sisulu Centre in Soweto.
Social worker strike: Volunteers step in
Volunteers have been roped in to assist at KwaZulu-Natal child and youth care centres.
This is in light of the national strike by employees belonging to the National Education‚ Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu)‚ that includes social development employees‚ who are demanding more favourable working conditions and an increase in salaries.
Spokesman for the provincial department of social development‚ Ncumisa Ndelu‚ said there have been disruptions at their centres.
“Child and youth care centres are classified as rendering an essential service so by law the strikes there are not protected. So only a few workers are on strike. But where there are issues we have roped in people who have been trained and work in the community to help in the centres with the day-to-day monitoring and activities‚” she said.
Ndelu said of the 73 child and youth care centres in the province‚ eight were state run.
“Only one of the centres has been closed following the killing of a supervisor last week. About 21 children have been moved to other centres‚” she added.
Last week a supervisor at the Excelsior Place of Safety in Pinetown‚ a government organisation that accommodates boys aged 13 to 17‚ was killed. The centre is a short-term residential facility that has an intervention programme intended to help boys awaiting trial.
Head of Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal‚ Nokuthula Khanyile‚ said not all workers were on strike because some understand that they render an essential service and as such continue to report for duty despite the intimidation.
“We have also noted claims that children are going hungry‚ which is a malicious lie. Catering services are outsourced‚ making it impossible for a service provider to go on strike. We believe these rumours are being spread by people who want to cause unnecessary panic‚” said Khanyile.
Sipho Msimango‚ chairman of the Thokoza Kids and Youth Organisation‚ said they have been assisting other facilities sourcing volunteers.
“Our concern is the rights of the children. Our concern now is the transportation of children from one of the facilities to school. Also striking workers not allowing service providers‚ like food deliveries‚ onto the property‚” said Msimango.
The Nehawu strike has been blamed for the death of a six-month-old baby in Gauteng.
The child‚ was among the 90 moved from Walter Sisulu Centre in Soweto.
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