Hospital workers in Mpumalanga protest over unsafe working conditions

Health workers including nurses at the Matikwane Hospital in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga, have downed tools protesting against working under what they say is unsafe condition.

The workers allege that they are forced to work while construction workers are removing asbestos in the hospital. They are complaining about the dust caused by the removal of the asbestos.

Residents living in and around the hospital have joined the protest in solidarity with the hospital staff.

“They are working under this dangerous condition. The department did not take or follow the right procedures since the project was ongoing until a stage where they decided to sit in exercising their power. So, now what we’re experiencing is the abuse of power by the Department of Health, the hospital board, and the CEO.”

“We see the contractor that is working here, they’re wearing PPE, enough PPE to defend themselves or to protect themselves. But, the workers and the patients that are in the hospital are not getting the necessary PPE to protect themselves. If we have more fatalities because of this situation, we will make sure that the government must be held accountable.”