Strike causes chaos

The National Heatlh and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has warned people to stay away from state run hospitals and clinics as striking public servants embarked on a total shutdown of services. This comes as they rejected government’s latest wage offer of seven percent. Nehawu provincial secretary, Soroya Jawoodeen, staff at hospitals and clinics began picketing on Friday, despite all health workers being classified as ‘essential staff.’

“We have completely shutdown service delivery points. We spent most of yesterday mobilizing our members. Today, Tygerberg, Groote Schuur and GF Jooste hospitals are inaccessible to the public,” she told VOC News during an interview on Breakfast Beat.

When asked about emergency cases, she explained that shop stewards and marshals at the various picket lines will facilitate entry into the hospitals. “Chronic medication would be seen as an emergency. There is a ‘wall’ between the marshals and the police and this is not helping communication between our marshals and the public. We will keep an emergency lane open for trauma cases, ICU cases and maternity cases.”

Education

Meanwhile the Western Cape Education Department said its comprehensive three point contingency plan is in place to ensure that teaching still continues at school across the province. MEC for Education, Donald Grant, explained the plan is based on three main objectives: “to keep the learners safe and supervised, to ensure that teaching and learning continues as far as possible, and to manage the system so that it functions as effectively as possible despite the disruptions.”

“All our resources will be used to ensure that these objectives are met…to ensure that the rights of our learners are respected so that they can receive a quality basic education in these difficult times. The WCED has through its district offices, communicated with school management teams and governing body structures requirements for appropriate supervisory and safety arrangements,” he said.

Grant has urged parents and caregivers to send their children to school, until notified otherwise. “Yesterday there was isolated incidents of violence and intimidation throughout the province. These unlawful acts were effectively dealt with by Western Cape police. I wish to reiterate that we will use every available mechanism to ensure that the rights of children and teachers attending school are protected. Teachers who do not act responsibly face ‘serious consequences’ should they transgress the law.

Matric fears

Grant further explained that the Department had developed a number of curriculum support programmes, in an attempt to ensure that learning continues. “These programmes support all grades with a particular focus on our Grade 12’s who will begin writing the first practical examination of the National Senior Certificate Examinations in just 54 days time.”

“As part of the WCED’s ‘Own your future. Own your success. Study hard to pass YOUR matric’ campaign, the WCED initiated a number of tutorial programmes throughout the province during the second school term. The tutoring aims to increase the pass rate in high enrolment subjects with high failure rates and has garnered much support from the Grade 12 learners,” he said.

Grant urged Grade 12 learners to use their ‘Tips for Success’ booklet which will provide them with information on how to plan their revision programme and tips on how to study.

“We encourage our Grade 12 learners to use this booklet by ticking off what they know and how to identify areas where they feel they are weak and need improvement. Specific schools were also provided with extra past examination papers. We also ensured that all our Grade 12 learners received the necessary textbooks for major subject,” said Grant.