South Africa
Denosa could head to court over protective gear─── 13:00 Fri, 03 Apr 2020
The Democratic Nursing Union of South Africa (Denosa) could head to court over the Department of Health’s failure to provide its members with protective gear.
The country’s biggest nursing union says it refuses to allow its members to be “sacrificial lambs” in the battle against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
Denosa general-secretary Cassim Lekhoathi says if government doesn’t deliver on its promises the union will be left with no choice but to take the legal route.
“At the end of the day, the virus will not wait for the consignment to come. The virus does not have time, dates and an appointment. Where it finds it way, it will rear its ugly head. So we need to be proactive than be reactionary.
“We want to and will give our government a chance at the promise today to get a consignment. Failure thereof we will be left with no option but to approach the authorities.”
Denosa joins the National Education and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in threatening court action over the provision of protective gear.
Earlier this week, Nehawu confirmed they could also head to court over a lack of safety gear in the health sector.