Pathologists’ go-slow continues

THE go-slow by Eastern Cape pathologist officers in East London and Bhisho, which has resulted in bodies piling up at state mortuaries, is now in its third week as workers demand overtime money they say is owed to them.

At the same time emergency services workers have also been refusing to go out when called, saying they would only do so when under police escort.

The paramedics are also demanding backpay, dating back to 2003.

Forensic pathologist officers in East London and Bhisho have for three weeks only processing two bodies a day for post-mortems.

The health department, representatives of EMS and pathology unit workers have been meeting and negotiating, trying to find a way of ending the impasse.

Yesterday, pathologist Dr Solomzi Zondo said: “Nothing has changed. The department is still not paying people and so the go-slow is continuing.”

Provincial health spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha said he was unable to give an update on what the situation was.

“On Wednesday the department will be able to give status reports on what has transpired over the weekend. At the moment we are still gathering information,” Sicwetsha said. —