Reinstatement of dentists ‘vindicates’ PSA

The Public Servants Association (PSA) has welcomed the judgment by the Limpopo High Court which ordered the Limpopo department of health to re-employ seven dentists.

The judgment comes after their contracts were terminated by the department before the completion of their community service terms.

“The judgment should be taken seriously by the department as other health professionals are not yet absorbed, based on a signed contract,” said John Teffo, PSA provincial manager for Limpopo.

“In the contract, the department binds health professionals to serve it for the period they were released for studies.”

The PSA warned the department it had an obligation to absorb those health professionals who completed their studies as per the signed contract.

According to the PSA, despite the fact that it called on the department to absorb affected health professionals, the department maintained its stance.

“The non-absorbing of those health professionals is because of a lack of proper planning,” Teffo said.

“The PSA embarked on a process to consolidate the list of all affected employees to ensure that justice is served for these employees who found themselves at the mercy of an employer who has demonstrated that it doesn’t care about its employees.

“The PSA is vindicated by this judgment.” – ANA