5 February 2007
The Head of Department (HoD), Dr BM Nyembezi, in the KwaZulu-Natal
Department of Health wants to assure the general public that the nurses who
were dismissed on Friday, 2 February 2007, remain dismissed. This follows a 10
day illegal industrial action by nurses under the banner of the KwaZulu-Natal
Nurses Committee. This organisation has misled nurses under fallacious
pretences to undergo on an illegal industrial action affecting a number of
institutions. The department issued an ultimatum on the 31 January 2007 for all
nurses to return to duty failing which they would be dismissed. On Friday, 2
February 2007, the HoD exercised her right to dismiss these nurses.
The department is of the view that even though the numbers are large, around
728 nurses are to be dismissed; ill-discipline and thuggery cannot be allowed
to prevail within the department. The institutions that are affected include
Ngwelezana, 208 nurses dismissed; Prince Mshiyeni Memorial, 220 nurses
dismissed; Edendale, 141 nurses dismissed; St Benedictine, 1 dismissed; GJ
Crookes, 56 nurses dismissed; and Lower Umfolozi War Memorial, 53 nurses
dismissed.
As a department we cannot afford to continue to employ and pay people who
have shown little or no compassion and commitment to service delivery.
Furthermore, the legal framework which governs labour relations in the country
has been undermined by the 'striking' nurses making mockery the hard gained
rights of workers in South Africa. The department respects all nurses and
regards them as the backbone of health care services.
Our department is working closely with unions to address the aftermath of
the dismissals.
The MEC for Health, Ms NP Nkonyeni, will be meeting all unions to address
the matter and look at ways of restoring pride and respect to the profession.
"We need workers who would emulate the compassion of Cecilia Makiwane and all
courageous and gallant heroes and heroines of the nursing profession. Ma
Adelaide Tambo's soul would not rest in peace if we allow her profession to be
ridiculed and insulted in the manner that the dismissed nurses have," is the
MEC's view on the matter.
Service delivery in all our institutions remains stable and people are
assured that the department would do everything in its power to ensure that
service delivery is not compromised.
Enquiries
Leon Mbangwa
Cell: 083 459 8695
Issued by the Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
5 February 2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za/)
