South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla has called on Police Minister Bheki Cele to deploy more police officers to stop a violent health workers’ strike that has disrupted health services across the country.
Health ministry spokesperson Foster Mohale said Phaahla had contacted Cele to ask for the deployment and strengthening of the presence of police at all affected hospitals nationwide.
Members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) have been protesting since Monday over higher wages, with some strikers closing down hospitals, intimidating those reporting for work and blockading other government offices.
The strikers are turning away patients while those admitted in hospitals have been left unattended since Monday.
The government has offered a 4.5 percent salary increase but NEHAWU and other unions are still holding out for a hike of at least 10 percent.
NM/jn/APA