South Africa: Public sector employees protest, demand wage improve

South Africa’s largest public sector employees union continued to protest outdoors numerous hospitals throughout the nation on Monday. The protest, together with union members in well being and schooling, has run into its second week, with heavy regulation enforcement on show to observe the rallies.

The Nationwide Training, Well being and Allied Employees’ Union is demanding a ten% wage improve, whereas the federal government has provided 4.7%. Protesters have vowed to accentuate their motion till their calls for are met.

Members of the South African Defence Drive have been additionally deployed to the Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vasloorus to the east of Johannesburg.

In accordance with the army, medical personnel have been deployed to a number of public hospitals to mitigate the results of a strike that the federal government says has triggered a number of deaths.

“We have now acquired a request from the minister of well being to help within the face of the continuing strike and to make sure that providers function with minimal disruption,” Phillip Makopo, spokesman for the South African military well being service, instructed AFP.

“Navy well being practitioners have been deployed to hospitals on Wednesday” final week and “will stay there as required,” he mentioned.

South African Well being Minister Joe Phaahla mentioned at the least 4 sufferers had died and that their deaths “might be instantly attributed to the strike.”

Final week, strikers blocked entry to varied hospitals, stopping sufferers from attending to them.

Joe Phaahla mentioned that the army was additionally serving to to safe entry to the hospitals.

On Monday morning, AFP reporters noticed 4 troopers positioned close to the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in southeast Johannesburg, whereas law enforcement officials patrolled the doorway.

The strike affecting a number of public hospitals started every week in the past with a piece stoppage by nursing and upkeep employees demanding a ten% pay rise, whereas the federal government has solely agreed to a 4.7% improve.

On Monday, the courts ordered a halt to the motion, however the strikers proceed to look at the strike.