KZN health officials to meet staff representatives over safety

MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo yesterday visited Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital where two security guards were killed during the strike.

Workers want to be hired directly and on a permanent basis by the Health Department as they accuse their current employers of pocketing the bulk of the money the health institutions pay them for services.

Dhlomo's urged police to assist in making sure that protestors are 500 metres away from the hospitals as per a court interdict.

"We are following the law on the Labour Relations Act in the bargaining council there as specific unions they are mentioned there that are the ones that can engage with your employer.

"Those are the ones that I will be meeting and if any of those people outside there are potential members of any of those unions than the union leaders and members will find time to meet them," he said.

Meanwhile, the South African Public Services Union's Joe Sibiya says contracted workers at Edendale Hospital in Pietermartizburg have from today also joined the strike.