Union to sue over protective gear shortage

THE National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) is tomorrow finally taking Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to the Labour Court over his department’s failure to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to health-care workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, the union gave Mkhize until April 1 to ensure that no worker was compelled to work on the front lines without protective gear, as this, they said, placed them at risk of contracting the virus, which has claimed the lives of nine South Africans.

On Friday, the union served Mkhize with court papers.

The minister had indicated that his department had held engagements with Cosatu and Nehawu as part of resolving the PPE shortages, but the federation and the union accused him of lying to the nation and its members.

Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said numerous attempts had been made by Nehawu to meet with Mkhize since the outbreak of the pandemic, which has infected more than 1 500 people, including healthcare workers, and that their attempts had been unsuccessful, hence the decision to take legal action against him.

“Dr Mkhize has shunned all meeting requests by Nehawu, and this led to the union approaching the court in a bid to compel the minister to take proactive measures to protect workers from contracting the virus while in the line of duty.”

Ntshalintshali said the federation was “revolted” by Mkhize’s claims.

Mkhize’s spokesperson, Dr Lwazi Manzi, had not responded by the time of publication.