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DENOSA hands over memorandum of demands to National Department of Health
DENOSA handed over the memorandum of demands to the National Department of Health in Pretoria on 22 February. Reading the memorandum, DENOSA General Secretary, Oscar Phaka, said for the severe shortage of nurses in facilities, the lack of security, the dirtiness of health facilities, absence of food, and absence of medication in facilities, nurses are to be blamed. “That is not fair!” he said.
DENOSA President, Simon Hlungwani, said the organisation gives the Department 7 working days to respond to the demands. Accepting the memorandum on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office, Dr Nonhlanhla Makhanya, said she has indeed accepted the memorandum and signed and that she will give it over to the minister.
The march was a combined one between DENOSA and its sister union NEHAWU. COSATU President, Sdumo Dlamini, said health demands of health workers are genuine and need to be heeded by the Department. On the salaries and the continued squeezing of increases for government workers, Dlamini said: “We are not monkeys. We don’t eat peanuts,” to the applause of more than 10 000 health workers at the march.
DENOSA President, said if the Department does not respond to its memorandum in seven days, nurses will occupy the National Department of Health offices. NEHAWU Deputy President, Mike Shingange, said NEHAWU will assist DENOSA if the Department does not respond. “You will also have us to deal with, because the issues that DENOSA raised cut across and also affect us.”
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Documents
Memorandum of Demands to The Minister of Health Dr. A. Motsoaledi
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