Departmental stance on the NEHAWU strike
As the North West Health MEC, I have reflected on the Nehawu Strike of the 20th March 2018 and its implications to health care service delivery in the Province. The strike follows a series of disruptions which started on the 26th February 2018 targeting the Provincial Office, the Medical Depot and some facilities particularly around Mahikeng.
It is my view that health remains an essential service and that it is a matter of life and death hence it must not be compromised. I am therefore disturbed by allegations of disruptions and intimidation of some of our nurses who willing to service our people. These intimidations particularly goes against the oath and values that our health professionals ascribes to.
I had meetings with the leadership of the union in attempt to resolve the impasse. In such meetings, the Department responded to a number of issues and demands raised by Nehawu which include:
- Insourcing of Services
- Commitment by the MEC to suspend the HOD
- Performance Management and Development System (PMDS)
- Vacancy Rate and Acting Positions
- Salary Levels
- Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD)
- Community health Workers
- Corruption and Greed
- Health technology
- Centralization of Finance Functions
The Department has indicated to the union that termination of active contract without due process may have legal consequences which may include judgement of payment of the remainder of the contract even when the services were not provided, leading to fruitless and wasteful expenditure. In the interim, the Department will be reviewing all the affected contracts and send me a report on or before the 24th of March 2018. The Office of the Premier has also appointed Open Waters forensic services to investigate the contracts listed in memorandum. The actions to be taken will be dependent on the outcomes of the investigations.
I can assure the public that the Department is committed to insourcing of security, cleaning and catering services, however such decision would have to be informed by comprehensive cost/benefit analysis. The insourcing has cross cutting bearing on other aspects of the organisation like human resources, and cannot be decided solely by the department without the involvement of departments like DPSA, Treasury, and Office of the Premier. There’s already some work in progress in respect of security and catering services. NEHAWU and other trade unions will be provided with progress report regarding cost/benefit analysis research/investigation.
As already pronounced, the substantive Head of Department is currently on leave in order that all allegations levelled against him can be investigated unhindered. An acting Head of Department has been appointed.
Following an analysis of cash available versus commitments, the Department has made a provision to pay performance bonus. The money available must be spent before the system closes on the 26th of March 2018.
The Department is guided by the PMDS policy when rewarding performance and will strive at all times to ensure that all deserving employees are rewarded for excellent performance. It will therefore be irregular to pay performance bonus to employees whose reports have not been moderated or found not to be eligible for performance bonuses.
The chronic underfunding of health services exacerbated by an explosion of both communicable and non-communicable diseases has resulted in budget pressures. Resultantly, shifting of funds between standard items, programs, cost centers and cost items has been done to alleviate the said pressures. All these shifts are made to avoid forfeiting any unspent budget and to reduce accruals which may have dire consequences in the next financial year. In the current financial year R150m was saved from compensation of employees and used to alleviate budget pressures against Goods and Services.
While the Department acknowledges that not all critical core and support services vacant posts were filled in the most recent year, progress was however registered in filling 1844 posts. Available budget was also directed at clearing employee cost liabilities such as overtime, grade progression and performance rewards backlogs.
It is common knowledge that the Department is under co-management with Provincial Treasury, therefore the Department cannot unilaterally advertise and fill posts. A draft recruitment plan to fill prioritized posts in the next financial year is available. This plan will be discussed with Provincial Treasury.
Employees are appointed on acting capacity in compliance with applicable prescripts in order that they should discharge duties which will ensure that service delivery is not disrupted. NEHAWU is encouraged to submit a list of acting appointments which are based on favouritism and/or are not complying with relevant prescripts.
The Department does not have authority to abolish any levels of appointment prescribed by the DPSA. The issue can best be handled at the Public Service Bargaining Councils between DPSA and trade unions. NEHAWU is encouraged to consider elevating this demand to National level.
Whilst the Department acknowledges that there was a commitment made to investigate salary levels, there is a need for a business case to be updated with the recent prevailing circumstances at the Depot and same be submitted to OOP for consideration by the DPSA.
All employees who qualify for OSD have been put on OSD notches. The outstanding matter regarding head office based program managers is currently before the courts. This matter remain sub judice.
The Department is awaiting final directive from NDoH and DPSA on employment status of Community Health Workers. Meanwhile the Department has registered community health workers for UIF with the Department of Labour. The employer contribution for UIF is made monthly. The current challenge is regarding monthly verification of employee contribution which the Department is currently resolving together with Department of Labour.
Payment of Mr Property has been subjected to the scrutiny of AGSA during the regulatory audit process.
As indicated in the response under demand no 1 above, the mentioned contracts including OGC/Bokone Bophirima Property Developers have not been declared as corrupt transactions by any authority. The Department will await the already specified forensic investigation’s findings and recommendation for further action if need be.
The Department requires further clarity and details of alleged fruitless and wasteful expenditure on the Opti-Pharm matter from NEHAWU for investigations.
NEHAWU’s demand on the Mega Works payment in respect of World Aids Days and other alleged dubious transactions allegedly enforced by Office of the Premier is not clear. NEHAWU is encouraged to provide more details to afford the Department to investigate further.
If NEHAWU is of the belief that any transaction in the Department is of corrupt or questionable nature, they have a right and duty to report such transactions to the relevant law enforcement authorities.
A decision was taken to centralize finance functions temporarily for the last two months of this financial year (February 2018 and March 2018) to avoid unauthorized expenditure that affected the Departmental budget negatively previously. There is a plan in place to source additional person power to assist with the work load as a result of centralization. As from the 1stApril 2018, the function will be decentralized again.
The health technicians are allocated pool cars (one per district) under the supervision of District Chief Directors to assist them to perform their work. The issue regarding their levels is discussed between National Department of Health, DPSA and National Treasury to standardize it in all provinces. The feedback will be provided once a decision in this regard is made. In the meantime, all employees who qualify are encouraged to apply for subsidy.
NEHAWU Provincial leadership made an undertaking and commitment that there is no strike and there will be no disruption of services. The Department wishes to express its dissatisfaction with the manner in which NEHAWU members have conducted themselves regardless of the commitment.
North West Department of Health is committed towards finding amicable solutions within the parameters of the laws governing Public Service to issues raised by employees. It is further noted that most of the demands tabled by the union is work in progress and cannot be resolved immediately, however those which are short term will be addressed as such within applicable prescripts.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 0829299958
