A complaint of vandalism has been filed with Polokwane police after workers caused chaos in the corridors of the provincial hospital in the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Nehawu union members poured food and milk, which would be the patients’ dinner, into the maternity ward and into the hospital’s kitchen. Garbage bins were also overturned in the hospital’s corridors.
They are apparently unhappy with their performance bonuses.
Neil Shikwambana, spokesperson for the health department in Limpopo, says the union’s behavior is unacceptable after the department has already spent R43m on performance bonuses this year.
In addition, the strike and demonstration that workers began on Tuesday is illegal, he says.
According to Shikwambana, some of the workers even tried to stop the nurses from treating patients. Trolleys containing medicine, bandages and patient information were also overturned and lying on the floor.
“Why should the patients suffer if the workers are dissatisfied with their bonuses? That’s not right, ”Shikwambana said.
The department has filed a complaint of vandalism with Polokwane police.
Featured image: Neil Shikwambana
