DA lays criminal charges against NEHAWU officials in KZN

14 March 2023

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has laid criminal charges against National Education, Health, and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) officials in the province. (view here and here)

The move follows the death of a pregnant young Pietermaritzburg woman, Thandokuhle Mlotshwa, last week. This is after she failed to receive swift medical attention as a result of ongoing protest action by the union.

It also comes as NEHAWU members continue to strike despite an urgent court interdict to prevent them from doing so.

The DA has condemned this strike in the strongest possible terms. On Friday last week, we gave the Provincial Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, 72 hours to lay the charges.

The MEC has failed to act in the interests of KZN’s people. As a result, the DA has been forced to take a stand and to do what she - as the political head of this department - should have done.

The ANC in KZN has put the needs of our people on the backburner, in favour of its relationship with alliance partner, NEHAWU. In so doing, it is equally liable for the death and suffering at our healthcare facilities during the past few days.

It is clear that this ANC-run government does not care about the people. Certainly, it is not prepared to go to battle on their behalf. This has been proved in numerous situations. Instead, as KZN’s most effective opposition, it is the DA that continues to fight for them.

The right to healthcare is enshrined in our Constitution, and it is shocking that the government cannot or will not act to ensure this. Our province has all the makings of a mafia state, where the government is essentially part of criminal activity itself.

Governance is not an ordained privilege. It is a mandate of the people, for the people. The citizens of KZN need to remember this when they go to the polls in 2024.

Issued by Francois Rodgers and Edwin Baptie, DA, 14 March 2023