Staff downed tools at RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth, Durban, last week as nurses, admin and general workers protested for an hour over poor working conditions, handing a memorandum to the CEO for the Health Department’s attention.
The nurses said they were forced to perform cleaning duties as well as care for patients because there weren’t enough cleaning staff, while other employees complained about shortages in the administration and general units.
A meeting was held with management in February, at which union leaders had asked for a commitment to resolving their complaints, reports GroundUp.
Nurse Zizakele Ndlovu said they were told that conditions would improve but that nothing had changed.
She said a number of staff had been lost during Covid while others had retired and more had resigned, but the vacancies had not been filled. There were also key management positions which were vacant.
Hospital CEO Linda Sobekwa accepted the workers’ memorandum and signed it on behalf of the provincial health department. She promised to ensure the department responded within 10 days as requested.
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