Teargas used to disperse workers blocking ambulances
Hospital workers blocking the entrance to the Dora Nginza Hospital were dispersed with teargas and stun grenades yesterday as protests over back pay disrupted services at the facility.
Though hospital staff claimed the police used excessive force to disrupt their peaceful protest, a security official said something had to be done to allow ambulances to enter the hospital complex.
Dozens of healthcare workers picketed at the hospital’s main entrance after back pay, dating back to April, was not paid into their accounts yesterday morning, as promised.
“An agreement was signed that all public servants would receive back pay after wage negotiations were finalised.
“We know many other sectors have received their payment, but those working in the health sector were excluded,” a representative for the healthcare workers said at the protest.
A letter, signed by Eastern Cape health department superintendent-general Dr Rolene Wagner, was circulated to healthcare workers earlier yesterday, saying unforeseen technical challenges at Absa had led to delays in the promised payments.
However, the department assured the employees that the payments were being processed and would reflect in their accounts today.
“The expected salary adjustment is unfortunately delayed.
“We are advised by Absa that payments will be paid from today September 16 and overnight going into the early hours of tomorrow September 17,” the letter said.
Police were deployed to the hospital and, about midday, crowd-control measures were implemented to disperse the group blocking the hospital entrance.
Hospital employee Thando Ndzima said the staffers were conducting a peaceful protest and could not understand why the police had “resorted to violence”.
“My eyes are on fire from the teargas. We were doing nothing wrong, but they still turned their weapons on us,” he said.
A security official, who did not want to be named, said he was unsure who had contacted the police, but did not believe their action was excessive.
“The ambulances could not come and go. “Patients could be dying in those ambulances, but these people were blocking the road.
“The police did what they had to and no-one was seriously injured.” The healthcare workers’ representative said if the outstanding money did not reflect in their accounts by Friday morning, they would continue with their protest.