The Eastern Cape Department of Health has until Tuesday next week to comply with an order to pay the salaries of a group of workers, failing which Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa could face possible arrest, the Gqeberha Labour Court has warned.
The Herald reports that last week, the court granted the department an extension to comply with a 5 June order to presented arguments on why Capa and her Head of Department, Dr Rolene Wagner, should not be arrested or fined.
The department’s application was heard virtually on Friday. This followed the failure by both Capa and Wagner to comply with an order on 14 May instructing them to pay the salaries of 22 employees that had been stopped in April. The department also failed to pay them in May.
The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa), Personnel Trade Union of SA and the 22 staff subsequently filed an application for the pair to be found in contempt of court. The matter was heard on 5 June.
Capa’s spokesperson, Camagwini Mavovana, said the department had already reinstated the affected employees and taken steps to ensure their June salaries would be paid.
“The outstanding back pay for April and May 2026 is currently being processed,” Mavovana said.
The employees worked at Orsmond TB Hospital in Kariega, which has apparently been undergoing renovations since 2021. Their jobs were reportedly terminated by the department in April after a dispute over their alleged resistance to report for duty at other facilities.
The staff cited in court papers include nurses, porters and general workers.
The Herald article – Capa, Wagner avert arrest or fine (Restricted access)
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