The Department of Health notes the statement and has received the report on NEHAWU’s fact finding mission. This report is welcomed.

1. THE MINISTER OFHEALTH WELCOMES THE NEHAWU REPORT
29 July2020
6:00am Johannesburg
The Departmentof Healthnotesthe statementandhasreceivedthe reportonNEHAWU’sfact
findingmission.Thisreportiswelcomed.
Constructive engagementsbetween managementandunionshasalwaysbeenencouragedtocreate
teamwork inthe fightagainstCOVID-19
For the department,itiscritical thatthere are platformsthatfacilitate ongoingengagementon
issuesof safetyof employeesandadequacyof protective equipment,trainingandpreparationforall
healthworkerstocare forCOVIDpositive patients.
In a bidto ensure continuousengagementwithall stakeholderscritical tothe fightagainstCOVID1-
9, the Minister,DrZwelini Mkhize,gave adirective forOccupational HealthandSafetycommittees
to be createdin everyprovincial,districtandlocal hospital level.
At the beginningof June,the Ministersof HealthandSocial Developmentlaunchedthe Multi-
Sectoral Ministerial AdvisoryCommittee.Organisedlabourrepresentinghealthworkers(NEHAWU,
PSA,DENOSA,HOSPERSA) formspartof thisMAC. At the beginningof July,whentherewere
continuedreportsthatsome healthfacilitieswere still notcomplyingwithhealthprotocols,the
Ministerof Healthrequestedthatalabourworkstream be formedbythe MAC that will workona
fact findingexercise focusingonissuesaffectinghealthworkerswithspecificfocusonthe PPE
requirements.
The Ministerfurtherrequestedthatthe labourworkstreamidentifiesthose specificfacilitiesthat
have shortagessothat the Departmentof Healthcan immediatelyinterveneinthose facilities.This
exercise isongoingandthe Ministerwill now notonlyrelyonreportsfromthe provincial
departmentsof healthtounderstandthe situationonthe ground.Thiswill now be augmentedand
the departmentwill benefitfromthe workdone bythe labourworkstreamof the multi sectoral
MAC to timeouslyrespondtoconcernsraised.
Thisreportwill therefore assistthiscritical workstreamasthe Ministerwill requestthatreference
be made to specificprovinces,districtsandfacilitiessoasto urgentlyrespondtothe identified
shortfalls. The constantreportingof incidentsof noncompliance will assistusinprotectingourfront
line workers.

2. We alsocontinue withourdrive torecruitnew healthworkersespeciallyinlightof fieldhospitals
that will stretchthe currentworkforce.Thisrecruitmentisbeingdone onanurgentbasisduringthis
pandemicperiod.
The Departmentof Healthrecognizesthe critical role tobe playedbylabourinrepresentingtheir
membersviewsduringthisperiod.We reiterate ourcommitmentthatnohealthworkershouldbe
exposedtoawork environmentwhere theyhave notbeenprovidedwithsufficientPPE. We will
continue toprovide asmuch supportas we can invariousareas affectingourhealthworkers.
We continue totake seriouslyall concernsraisedbyhealthworkersandencourage unionsto
continue toengage inall structuresandplatformsto raise issuesandbringthemtoour attention.
We wishtoappreciate all the workdone byour healthworkers.Inthe wordsof the Minister:
“I salute all the menand womenwhoserve ournationinthe healthsector.Ithank themfortheir
dedicationandhardworkof caring forour nationinthe fightagainstthisinvisible enemy. We bow
our headsas we pay tribute tothose whohave losttheirlivesinthisfightandconveycondolencesto
theirlovedones. Isalute all ourheroes:the doctors,nursesradiographers,physiotherapists,
pharmacists,laboratoryworkers,therapists,technologists,technicians,emergencycare officers,
drivers,porters,care workers,general workersandall healthworkercategoriesfor
your commitmenttoservingourpeople.Itisbecause of yourhard workthat SouthAfricawill
triumphoverthe pandemic.”
Ends....