Premier ‘put all SA at risk’

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) in Limpopo has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in a protracted feud between the union and Premier Stan Mathabatha.

The dispute is over the application of Covid-19 regulations.

This comes after the union alleged that Mathabatha had failed to provide leadership when a police officer working in the premier’s office tested positive for coronavirus.

The officer allegedly reported for duty and his temperature was found to be above normal.

He was subsequently referred for a medical check-up and tested positive for coronavirus.

Nehawu then called on Mathabatha to close his office and put his staff in isolation for at least 14 days.

Mathabatha allegedly ignored the union’s plea.

Yesterday the union said it was unthinkable for the premier to allow his employees to continue working after this event.

The union said failing to take action was proof enough that Mathabatha was insensitive, careless and did not have the interests of his staff and the people of Limpopo in general at heart.

“Mathabatha should have closed down the office, sent his staff for testing and put them in quarantine them for at least 14 days.

“By continuing working as if nothing has happened, the premier is putting the lives of the entire population at risk.

“We therefore cannot fold our arms and watch when a man, who is supposed to be protecting his people, turns a blind eye to the prescripts of World Health Organisation set to protect our people from Covid-19,” said Nehawu provincial secretary Jacob Adams yesterday.

Adams further warned Mathabatha to tread carefully in handling the matter with his employees. This was after the premier allegedly threatened employees who wanted to stay at home after the police officer tested positive, with non-payment of salaries for the time they stayed at home.

“We want to tell you face to face that you are playing with fire because what you want to do is against the law,” Adams said.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Kenny Mathivha, Mathabatha said the union’s obsession with the premier was beginning to become a cause for concern for the premier and the entire country. “The premier is not the administrative head of his office, the director-general is.

“Nehawu has surely been on holiday for a long time and has forgotten what the duties of the premier are.

“The said police official has since tested negative for coronavirus – an issue which Nehawu seemingly missed,” added Mathivha.