Residents had earlier shut down the operations at the Majara Sephepo Clinic in the area, demanding that 30% of the tender be given to residents.

In terms of the government's tender legislation, if a tender is worth more than R30 million, 30% of it should be given to local subcontractors.

According to the Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, the department condemns disruption of health services, which are deemed to be essential services. Lekgethwane further confirms that another clinic in the Potchefstroom-based JB Marks Local Municipality was also closed down.

“The protesters are said to be demanding 30% on security contracts. The department condemns the disruption of health services, which are essential services. No matter how aggrieved people may be, there is no excuse for closing a health facility and thus putting the lives of patients in danger. The aggrieved people are to follow due process to lodge their complaints,” Lekgethwane adds.

In 2019, the healthcare services at the Taung District Hospital in the North West were disrupted by a security company’s employees.

These employees, tasked with responsibilities of safety at the hospital, staged a protest against the Provincial Department of Health. The security company claimed at the time that the department had not been paying it for over two months.

ALSO READ: Security company’s employees disrupt services at NW hospital

Meanwhile, in 2021 the EFF in the Free State called on the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development "to insource security officers at courts across the province, who are employed by one single private security company".

This after it emerged that a large number of security officers at courts across Bloemfontein and surrounding areas were in limbo as the new security company failed to pay them the agreed amount of R5 200 and only paid them a minimum wage of R3 500.

ALSO READ: FS security officers in limbo

OFM News