Phaahla making Nehawu scapegoat for govt weaknesses, says union
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) say it's being made a scapegoat by the Department of Health.
Minister Joe Phaahla said on Thursday that they are investigating reports that four patients died due to the strike by healthcare workers affiliated to the union.
They are demanding a 10% pay rise and have rejected the government's 4.7%.
READ: Ramaphosa: Violence during Nehawu strike ‘unacceptable’
In KwaZulu-Natal, health officials say they have noted a high rate of staff absenteeism and interruptions to healthcare services in eThekwini, uMgungundlovu and Ilembe.
"We are not going to allow Nehawu to be used as a scapegoat by the Department of Health because of their own weaknesses," says Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi.
"The weaknesses that are in the health sector are quite shocking. There is a shortage of doctors, nurses and community health care workers."
ALSO READ: Strike sees KZN health facilities forced to ration resources
Nkolonzi has condemned the minister's remarks.
"For the minister to come and grandstand must be condemned. He should be addressing the systematic structural issues that are confronting health. You got a health workforce that is not motivated and underpaid."
