KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize has requested the Office of the Speaker to convene a special sitting of the provincial legislature on Tuesday, 24 August 2010.
The convening of the legislature on the said date is in line with section 127 sub-section 2 (d) of the Constitution of South Africa. The sitting will deliberate on the on-going strike.
On 21 August 2010, the provincial government obtained a court interdict. According to the interdict, all the respondents and all members of the respondents (public sector unions on strike) are hereby interdicted and restrained from:
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Preventing or threatening to prevent any person from entering or leaving any hospital, clinic, school, mortuary and all provincial governmental offices within the province of KwaZulu-Natal
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Assaulting and/or intimidating or threatening to assault and/or intimidate any person engaged in the business of any hospital, clinic, school, mortuary and all provincial governmental offices within the province of KwaZulu-Natal
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Damaging or threatening to damage any hospital, clinic, school, mortuary and all provincial governmental office property within the province of KwaZulu-Natal
The premier has reiterated that:
"As government we wish to remind the public that there are less than 67 days to the start of the matric examinations. We therefore called on leaders of our society, traditional leaders, religious leaders and all communities to assist learners during this difficult period.
"We say so because the good matric results are not about the school but about the impact that impact that the learners will make in the community and in the country's economy and future development.
"The blockade of public health institutions should be condemned. The people of this country have a right to access quality patient care at all times. As government we have the responsibility to protect the rights of the citizens of this province.
"Cabinet wishes to thank volunteers, organisations including East Coast Radio for mobilising the community to assist public health institutions. We also thank the Office of the Minister of Defense for ensuring that SA Military Health Services provide additional support to the hospital health services.
Enquiries:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya
Cell: 082 375 4742
Regi Khumalo
Cell: 079 751 6108
