NEHAWU says Gauteng health crisis must be addressed urgently

October 3, 2025 7

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) is demanding urgent accountability following revelations that more than R2 billion was looted from Tembisa Hospital through irregular procurement and fraudulent tenders.

The union took to the streets of Johannesburg on Friday, marching from Gandhi Square to the Gauteng Department of Health, calling for swift action to address what they describe as deep-rooted corruption and chronic mismanagement in the province’s healthcare system.

Union members say corruption has crippled health services, leaving poor and working-class communities without access to quality care.

Large crowds of NEHAWU members, joined by DENOSA and the South African Communist Party (SACP), gathered in the city centre to deliver a memorandum of demands.

The union accused the health department of turning a blind eye to corruption and failing to protect healthcare workers from exploitative labour practices.

NEHAWU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, Mzikayise Tshontshi, says the march was about exposing deep-rooted maladministration and demanding accountability.

Tshontshi added that the department must act urgently to resolve the systemic issues crippling the public health sector.

However, tensions flared when union members arrived at the department’s offices, where they expressed frustration over the absence of senior officials, including Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, who had been expected to receive the memorandum.

Protesters criticised the department for sending junior staff to meet them, calling it a sign of disrespect to healthcare workers.

NEHAWU Provincial Chairperson, Sello Mafela, said the union would not accept being addressed by interns or junior officials, emphasising that their focus remains on serving workers’ needs rather than appeasing government leaders.

The union’s demands include the insourcing of security guards, proper wage payments, streamlined administrative processes, and an end to outsourcing, which the union says fuels corruption and benefits politically connected individuals.

Mafela added that the union’s struggle is about restoring dignity in the workplace and ensuring healthcare workers are treated fairly.

Later in the day, NEHAWU gave the Gauteng Department of Health 14 days to respond to its demands. Tshontshi criticised the heavy police presence at the protest, calling it a scare tactic during what he described as a peaceful march.

He also said the absence of the Health MEC showed disregard for workers who keep the public health system running despite difficult conditions.

In response, the Head of HR at the Gauteng Department of Health, Lucky Motsoge, received the memorandum and promised that the issues raised would be forwarded to MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko for urgent consideration.

Motsoge acknowledged the department’s challenges and assured the union that plans would be developed to resolve them — although no clear timeline was provided.

NEHAWU warned it will intensify its actions if the department fails to respond within the 14-day deadline.

Workers in Gauteng demand that the MEC of @GautengHealth must respond to the memorandum of demands within 14 days, declares #NEHAWU Gauteng @GautengProvince @GautengHealth @Lesufi @moloko_moloto @ZinikokaMhlaba @NatashaN_Phiri @samkelemaseko @XoliMngambi @SiphamandlaGoge @eNCA pic.twitter.com/deh2iWLMeK

— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) October 3, 2025

That @GautengHealth sent an Intern to collect @NEHAWU‘s memorandum of demands speaks volumes. NEHAWU & its leadership are not respected by the @MYANC & its deployees in @GovernmentZA. The origins of this is in the alliance with the ANC & the personal interests of labour leaders.

— Zamxaka Nxarhuni (@ZNxarhuni) October 3, 2025