The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has deployed military healthcare practitioners at hospitals across South Africa to help improve services in public hospitals following the strike action by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members.
The SANDF said in a statement, the health personnel from the SA Military Health Services were deployed from last Wednesday following a request from the Department of Health and that they will remain there for as long as required.
In a statement, the SANDF said in terms of the National Disaster Management Act of 2002, SANDF members can be deployed for emergency services where needed.
The Nehawu strike had turned violent recently with videos on social media showing members trying to prevent doctors and health services workers from entering some hospitals and clinics.
Newsnote has reported that a man who sustained burns when a house he and two other relatives were staying in caught fire, could have been saved had the striking workers not prevented the family from accessing health facilities at Tshepong Hospital in Jouberton, North West.
A neighbour of the dead man was quoted as saying: “We attempted to explain that it was an emergency and that he (the deceased) could need oxygen but we were unable to get help; it’s sad that we could not do anything about it. They said they could not let us in due to the nationwide Nehawu strike”.
In one hospital social media footage showed Nehawu members planting burning debris at the entrance which hindered patients and motor vehicles from entering. While in another hospital, they wrestle with a doctor performing his duties in a healthcare facility
Some community members came out and doused the fire and threatened Nehawu members while outside the Chris Hani Baragwanath strikers were dispersed with rubber bullets resulting in some getting injured and being treated at the hospital.