Solutions on horizon after EFF march?

Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The 14-day deadline the EFF gave to the administration and management of the Knysna Provincial Hospital and Food Lover’s Market respectively has passed, and thus far it is unclear what the way forward will be.

On Worker’s Day, 1 May, about 80 EFF members set out from Nekkies in Knysna and delivered memorandums containing their demands to both the hospital and Food Lover's Market (FLM). Both institutions had 14 days to respond.

The handover at the hospital went ahead without incident, while a temporary moment of madness took over at FLM. Police had to use stun grenades to disperse the crowd before the handover could continue peacefully.

Various issues
The many issues at the hospital included claims of unprofessionalism from staff regarding patient confidentiality; issuing similar medication for all illnesses; disappointing ambulance response times to outlying communities; no room for growth for hospital employees; allegations of white patients receiving better treatment than others; unhealthy diets for patients; the need for clinics to be open 24 hours a day; and the lack of staff among other items.

FLM employees claim they are being discriminated against, are victims of racism, and that management is abusing the Labour Relation Act (LRA) and does not follow due processes set out by the Act, among other issues.

The EFF reads out its memorandum in front of Food Lover's Market on 1 May.

Clocking system
The worst of these, they say, is that they are forced to use a clocking system when using the toilet facilities at work. The time is then deducted off their salaries at the end of every month, they say.

Diswayne Maarman, EFF Eden District regional coordinator, said on Tuesday 8 May that no answers to their memorandums had been received.

Neither the Western Cape Government Health Department nor management at FLM could supply the Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) with tangible answers to the EFF's memorandums at that time, a week after the march. (Read full article online – “EFF still waiting for answers”)

Western Cape Government Health regional spokesperson Nadia Ferreira said on Friday 11 May, that a meeting was set with the minister of health (Dr Nomafrench Mbombo) and EFF provincial leader Bernard Joseph for 15 May, where the minister would supply a collective answer to all the EFF's memorandums.

The EFF's local leadership give Dr Earle du Plooy, the medical manager of the Knysna and Bitou provincial health subdistricts, a memorandum at Knysna Hospital on 1 May. Photos: Stefan Goosen

At the time of going to print on Wednesday 16 May, no feedback had been received from the provincial health department regarding the outcome of the meeting.

Wilhelm Hanekom from FLM said on Tuesday 15 May that the grocer had no comment.

As soon as feedback is received from all parties, including the EFF, we will inform the readers.

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