NEHAWU intensifies protest demands

As government is seemingly giving deaf ears to the plight of community health workers, the National Education, Health and Workers Union (NEHAWU) has correspondingly upped its acts of demands.

On November 26, 2020, health workers mainly in the dispute with government, gathered at Mothibistad garage and had a peaceful march to Kagiso Health Centre.

Upon arrival at Kagiso, they handed over a memorandum to the district manager. The dispute revolves around the demand to employ community health workers on a permanent slot. Some of the health workers have been working for more than ten years, but are still considered contract workers. This, NEHAWU says, constitutes  modern-day slavery.

The department gave a rebuttal to the demands, rescinding to the tentative agreement reached a few years ago. According to the national press release following the spasmodic protests, there have been intimidation and victimisation of members by the employer. This according to the region of John Taolo Gaetsewe, is creating more commotion and widening the gap of engagement.

The more one suppresses the spring, the more it wants to liberate itself. This is also exacerbated by the fact that some of the provincial offices of the department have been attempting to interdict workers from their intermittent protests. The region has remained resolute that it will stand by the national structure’s decision on the matter.  

NEHAWU staged yet another protest demanding permanent employment of community health workers, marching from Mothibistad service station to Kagiso health care centre.