Baby dies as strike goes on

THE GAUTENG government may be forced to resort to seeking assistance from the SANDF to resolve staff shortages at welfare care centres if the social workers’ strike continues, MEC for Social Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza has said.

This comes after a six-monthold baby girl, Singalakha Sonamazi, died on Tuesday after being moved from Walter Sisulu Child and Youth Care Centre in Soweto to Bethany Trust Home, a charity home in Krugersdorp, owing to the strike by social workers affiliated to the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).

At least 90 children were moved from various care centres in the province owing to the strike.

Mayathula-Khoza appealed to workers to exercise their right to strike but to try to avoid intimidation and compromising service.

“In our meeting with the Premier of Gauteng (David Makhura) yesterday… he indicated that he may be forced to request the assistance of the SANDF.”

Sonamazi and her three older siblings were moved on Friday in a group of 12 children transferred to Bethany after striking social workers barricaded entrances to the centre.

The four siblings had been initially placed at Walter Sisulu Child and Youth Care Centre on January 31.

Mayathula-Khoza said even though Sonamazi was diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome and had low birth weight, it was still unclear what had caused her death.

“The fact that we had to move her, along with 90 other children… makes our work to protect children very challenging,” Mayathula-Khoza said.

Nehawu members employed by the Department of Social Development earlier this month went on a full-blown strike across the country after negotiations over working conditions with the employer collapsed.

The union demands the occupation specific dispensation (OSD) for social service professionals and occupations, a rural allowance, and the permanent absorption of unemployed social workers.

Mayathula-Khoza said all Nehawu demands were of national competence.

Meanwhile, Nehawu denied that its strike had resulted in the death of Sonamazi, saying that Mayathula-Khoza should take full accountability for her death. –ANA