The union has said nursing staff and patients have borne the brunt of the ailing North West healthcare system, with the situation turning dire in recent months. 

Denosa Acting Provincial Secretary, Motlalepule Ramafoko, says the conditions under which nurses are expected to treat patients are unacceptable, these include staff shortages, lack of linen, medication, non-functional backup generators and absence of water in some of the facilities in sub-districts. She says nurses need resources because they cannot be expected to carry out their duties without essential resources like water. According to Ramafoko, security at facilities is also being compromised, placing nurses in grave danger “remember that security services are outsourced, if they are not paid, it means they cannot render the service”.

The problems in the North West healthcare system have long been in existence. Ramafoko says the problems date as far back as 2013/14, when a moratorium was placed on the health department, effectively stopping appointments of medical personnel. She says everything was thereafter outsourced, including the appointment of general and professional workers, which was done by a company called Marang. This company was allegedly awarded a multi-million contract to fill vacant posts. Emergency medical services were also outsourced, referring to the department’s contract with Buthelezi ambulance services.

The nursing union in the province has criticised the intimidation and bullying of hospital personnel by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) during its three-month-long strike and go-slow, saying the incident is proof that security must be prioritised. The Acting Provincial Secretary said there were many more instances where nurses have been attacked in the province.

Protests have rocked a number of health facilities in the province, Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp in particular. The hospital staff was barred by protesters from entering the premises and treating patients on numerous occasions in the last two months. The shutdowns at Tshepong resulted in surrounding clinics being forced to close their doors because Tshepong is the referral hospital. 

The advocacy group, Section 27, also condemned the unrest at hospitals and clinics in the province, saying they are “forced to condemn irresponsible protests that violate the rights of vulnerable people” after receiving phone calls from doctors reporting on the consequences the protests have had on the provision of healthcare. Calm has been restored despite Nehawu’s national day of action tomorrow, where the union will deliver renewed demands to the inter-ministerial committee in charge of running the North West government, having had accused the committee of “glossing over” some of their issues.

The North West health department was placed under administration by the national government, following on-going protests and corruption allegations. Last week the entire province was placed under administration.

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