NEHAWU statement on the extension of the National State of Disaster and resurgence of the coronavirus 4 December 2020
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) notes the announcement of the extension of the National State of Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa following a special sitting of Cabinet that considered the recommendations of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) meeting.
The rise in new infections should be a cause for concern and should prompt all South Africans to strictly follow all COVID-19 protocols, regulations and orders. In the last 24 hours 4400 new cases were reported while 21 709 people have lost their lives to the virus. The national union last week Tuesday made a stern warning that our fragile healthcare system will not survive a second wave considering that most of our healthcare facilities are still struggling with understaffing, intermittent supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and drugs shortages. We call on our government to revisit our fact-finding mission report which provides solutions to the problems faced by our hospitals and clinics.
We note the interventions announced by the President on the resurgence of the coronavirus in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. From the 12th to the 17th June 2020 our National Office Bearers (NOBs) made a visit to the Port Elizabeth area and the outcome of that visit was made public. We reported to government and the Department of Health that the Nelson Mandela bay area was a ticking time bomb and urgent interventions were needed. Recently, reports of overflowing hospitals, lack of workers to attend to patients and dilapidated infrastructure are hogging the headlines, however, this is not news to us as we tried our outmost best to alert government about the impending disaster.
We reported on the issue of understaffing and that nurses were converted to cleaners to try to keep the Livingstone hospital tidy. It was NEHAWU that highlighted the lack of oxygen points and shortages of beds including the mixing of COVID-19 patients and those who are not infected. We hope that the resurgence plan that is to be implemented to strengthen our health capacity will be unveiled to organised labour for workers buy-in. As important stakeholders we must be consulted on any plan that will involve or affect our members and workers.
Once again our members and workers will be called upon by government to lead the fight against the invisible enemy. This is the same government that called workers greedy at the Labour Appeals Court (LAC) for demanding their salary increase which was due on the 1st April 2020. It is the same government that is going out of its way to subject workers to a life of poverty by declaring a binding collective bargaining agreement unconstitutional therefore rendering it null and void. Workers patience has ran out and they refuse to be insulted by this uncaring government that is preoccupied with implementing neoliberal policies and pleasing rating agencies.
The President once again announced mass community screening and testing including increased contact tracing and isolation. During the hard lockdown this job was done by the Community Healthcare Workers. They risked their lives and worked extra hours to screen and test our people. Government promised to pay these workers for their overtime, however, up to today government has not paid them even a single cent. In this regard, our members who are Community Healthcare Workers will not participate in any mass screening and testing until government pays them their overtime, gives them proper uniforms, working tools and quality PPEs and employing them on a fulltime basis.
On the WHO COVID-19 Global Vaccine Access Facility
The President announced that the Solidarity Fund will be making an initial contribution of R327 million towards the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVID-19 Global Vaccine Access Facility – known as the Covax facility to procure vaccines when they become available on behalf of our country. However, there are reports in the public domain that our government missed the deadline of the first payment window thus delaying our participation in the program.
If Treasury is responsible for any delay in participating in the program to procure life-saving vaccines then they must be held accountable. Our Treasury is known for taking decisions that are not progressive including the implementation of austerity measures that have grossly disadvantaged the majority of our people especially the working class and the poor.
Lastly, we would like to once again appeal to all South Africans to continue to exercise and follow best practices and ways to avoid getting infected by the coronavirus including staying at home, observing social distance, wearing masks that covers both the mouth and nose, and washing hands with soap for 20 seconds or using alcohol based sanitisers. As we approach the festive season we appeal to our people to avoid crowded events and gatherings.
Issued by Khaya Xaba, National Spokesperson, NEHAWU, 4 December 2020
