KZN doctors stage sit-in in PMB over ‘promised jobs’
A group of unemployed medical doctors have staged a sit-in at KZN Health's offices in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.
They are accusing the government of selling them lies.
They say Health Minster Joe Phaahla and President Cyril Ramaphosa promised they would be employed by 01 April 2024.
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One of the protesting professionals, Dr Refilwe Mokoena, says they want to be kept in the loop on government's plans to accommodate them.
'Our healthcare system is in a shambles to be honest. Doctors are experiencing burn out; patients have to wake at 03h00 in the morning just to go the clinic, just to be told that there is no doctors today. It’s a very vicious cycle of fatigue and frustration on both ends.
We have not been officially received and no one has addressed us. In our last meeting, they said they would communicate with the committee and that was not done. They have ignored our calls and they have ignored our emails."
Dr Thandeka Mntambo from Nkandla has called on other unemployed doctors to join their efforts to put pressure on authorities.
"It is the Second of April, and we were promised that by this time we will be employed. However, we are still at home. Clearly here in South Africa you can’t get anything without fighting. So, staying at home and hoping that things are going to be okay is not going to help - hence you need to fight for your future. You get up and make means to ensure that you are heard since that's the language that's spoken here in South Africa."
Dr Thanduxolo Cele says they've been met with arrogance when following up on the promises made...
'It was quite unfortunate the arrogant response which said the government officials are still campaigning for the upcoming election. It cannot be that government officials would prioritise canvassing for votes when they have their government duties in front of their desk, and they are pushing them aside. The first of April was yesterday, there are still hundreds of us who are unemployed.
It will be an [indefinite] sit-in or until we get the posts that we were promised." The KZN Health Department says it’s aware of the sit-in but it’s yet to officially respond to the protest.
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