Nehawu strike: ‘It’s war!’
GAUTENG SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS LYING, SAYS UNION MEC says they may be forced to call in the SA National Defence Force.
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has accused the Gauteng department of social development of seeking public sympathy, after blaming striking union members of negatively affecting vulnerable beneficiaries.
Workers in the social development sector affiliated to Nehawu embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike during the time when concerns were raised about the unresolved social grants matter which ended in the Constitutional Court. At the time, the union vowed the strike will continue until workers’ demands are met.
Among others, labour is demanding the introduction of a rural allowance, the absorption of unemployed social workers on a permanent basis as well as improved conditions of service for all employees in the department.
Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, national spokesperson for Nehawu Khaya Xaba said the Gauteng department was declaring war with the union with allegations that striking union members had a hand in the death of a six-month-old child.
According to the department, the deceased was one of the 90 children who were moved from the department’s child and youth care centre to another.
“The children were moved on Friday as striking workers barricaded entrances at the affected centres barring essential supplies such as food, medication and laundry.”
However, Xaba denied the claims, accusing the department of lying.
“The children were not moved on Friday as the department claims … in fact, they were already moved on Tuesday last week.
“This is a declaration of war by the department and we are ready,” he said.
MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said in a meeting they had with Premier David Makhura on Tuesday, he indicated that the provincial government may be forced to request the assistance of the South African National Defence Force to assist in rendering services to the vulnerable beneficiaries, if the current situation does not change for the better.
“As we do this we appeal to our workers to exercise their right to strike and to be mindful of the communities and beneficiaries that we serve,” she said.
Mayathula-Khoza said it is still unclear what caused the little girl’s death, but stressed that the fact that she along with other children had to be moved due to acts of violence, makes work to protect children very challenging.
Commenting on the strike, Nehawu’s Xaba said talks with the employer continued yesterday. “The outcome of those talks, which will determine the way forward, will be made public soon,” Xaba said.
Social workers, South African Social Security Agency officials and community development workers would take part in such a strike. –