No pay in six weeks: 1000 Gauteng health workers in limbo

The Gauteng Health Department cites administrative issues, but the DA condemns the situation and demands immediate action from Lesufi.

The Gauteng Health Department has failed to pay the salaries of 1000 doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.

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1000 HEALTH WORKERS UNPAID

The healthcare workers have not been paid for more than six weeks, according to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow MEC for Health in the province, Jack Bloom.

The workers’ contracts expired at the end of March  2023 – they were hired by the department to help out at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and have stayed employed to assist with patient overload at provincial hospitals.

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“They were not paid in April, and the Gauteng Health Department is saying it will be two more weeks before they are paid.

“As usual, they blame administrative issues, but it is unacceptable that workers have to suffer for so long without payment,” said Bloom.

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LESUFI CRITICISED

The DA pointed out that the healthcare worker payment failure followed other similar incidents, including food shortages at Chris Hani Baragwanath, which had dire consequences.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi drew criticism for his silence on the issue and the “chronic malfunction” of public hospitals.

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“Imagine doing a stressful hospital job and then not getting paid while your bills keep coming in,” said Bloom.

The shadow MEC said Lesufi must step up with decisive measures to improve efficiency in the crucial sector.

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