Tebogo Msimanga |
The Ministry and Department of Health welcomed the Labour Appeal Court judgment delivered on Monday regarding the ongoing strike by the trade union, NEHAWU.
Health Minister Joe Phaalhla said there is no doubt that the strike has disrupted the provision of essential healthcare services in the country, leading to untold suffering and frustrations amongst the public who desperately needed healthcare and life-saving treatment and other interventions in the public health facilities.
“The court judgement concurs with the view that always being held by the Ministry and the Department that essential services workers are prohibited from engaging in disruptive industrial action which is detrimental to healthcare services with a risk of loss of life, as provided by the Labour Relations Act”.
Minister added that It is regrettable that this strike action has gone on causing untold hardship, pain, frustration and possible loss of life in its cause while it could have been avoided. “It is inconceivable that the leadership of NEWAHU were oblivious to the provisions of our law in this regard”.
Minister Phaahla urged all the workers in the health sector as defined in the court order to report to their workplace on Tuesday morning, 14 March 2023.
He apologized to all South Africans who have had pain, humiliation and suffering as a result of the strike.
