The ANC’s failure in serving the best interests of the community is becoming more glaring, as complaints against the party continue.
From poor service delivery and massive corruption in the ANC-led Tshwane Council, to the ANC-led Gauteng Province and ANC led National Departments, residents are just fed-up with the party they once believed would be the saviour of our ‘new South Africa.’
Locally ANC representatives from the 3 spheres of government, including Cllr Naeem Patel, are supposed to sit together at the Centurion PCO to assist residents facing problems, with any of these levels of governance. However, it seems to many residents, that Patel does not have the interests of the community at heart, but seems to be more interested in cutting cake with his ANC comrades, so as to elevate his status in the ‘bankrupt’ ANC party.
Issues of concern, such as the growing number of illegal informal settlements around the Erasmia and Laudium area, to the high incidence of crime in the area, to the falling of services at the Laudium Hospital and state schools, are issues that Patel is supposed to have raised long ago at the PCO meetings, with regular follow-ups.
This follows yet more complaints of the unhealthy state of affairs at the Laudium Community Health Care Centre (Laudium Hospital) on Bengal Street. This past Monday (Sept 8), saw services at the hospital being disrupted, as about 40 workers from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), posted at the hospital, went on strike and were seen ‘toyi toying’ outside the main gate of the hospital. The protestors were demanding permanent employment and complained about earning a low salary of around R3,500 per month for the past 10 years, saying that their pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears. They have been employed at the Laudium Hospital, which falls under the ANC-controlled Gauteng Health Department, for a decade, without permanent positions or salary increments.
James Konyana Bongani, a contract employee from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), working at the Laudium Community Health Care Centre (Laudium Hospital) on Bengal Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I have been working at the Laudium Hospital for almost 10 years in the administration department, earning a salary of R3,500. In all this time, I have not received any salary increase or promotion. This is totally unfair because, just like me, there are around 40 other workers who are still on contract and have been working here for nearly a decade, earning the same salary. How can the ANC led Government, which professes to care for it’s people, mislead us and take advantage of us like this, without giving us any salary increases, promotions, or permanent positions? As contract workers, we are performing duties such as cleaning, administration and other essential jobs, but the Gauteng Department treats these as low profile roles, as if we don’t deserve better pay or recognition. This is wrong, because we also have families to support. What can R3,500 provide for a family today? It’s not even enough to cover basic food expenses. Even the minimum wage for domestic workers is higher than R3,500 per month. The Gauteng Government says it spends so much money on this hospital, yet we don’t know where that money is going to and we believe that the money is being siphoned off through corrupt means. We have now said ‘enough is enough’ and have taken to the streets in protest. We blocked the hospital because we don’t want Laudium Hospital to operate until our demands are met. We need justice for contract employees and we demand answers immediately. If Laudium Hospital cannot give us permanent employment or salary increases, then they must explain why.”
Refiloe Aphane, another contract employee from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), working at the Laudium Hospital, told the Laudium Sun, “I am working as a cleaner at the Laudium Hospital and things are really tough here. We have been misled by the hospital with false promises that our salaries would increase as time passes and that we would get promotions. I have been working here for 10 years and in all that time, I have not received a single increase or promotion. The Gauteng Department or the Management at the Laudium Hospital must prioritize our needs. We urgently need salary increases and promotions. We want our voices to be heard at Provincial level, so that the Health Department can open its eyes and give us permanent employment. We are no longer negotiating with the management of Laudium Hospital. We need action, not empty promises.”
Sindi Phuti, another contract employee from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), working at the Laudium Hospital, told the Laudium Sun, “The management of Laudium Hospital is really undermining our needs and it is now time that they deliver on their promises. For the past 10 years, all of us working under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) at this hospital have not been made permanent employees, nor have we received any salary increases. This is totally unfair, because how are we supposed to survive when we have bills to pay? The Gauteng Dept or Laudium Hospital must increase our salaries and at the same time, give us permanent employment at the hospital.”
Ismail Yusuf, a patient who was spotted trying to enter Laudium Hospital this past Monday, in order to consult a doctor at the hospital, told the Laudium Sun, “I came for my check-up, but I couldn’t enter the hospital because the gates were closed due to the protest. This is really bad, because patients’ lives are at risk if we are not allowed inside. I don’t know much about the details of the protest, but whatever the workers are demanding, the hospital must listen and make a decision. At the end of the day, people like us—the working-class patients—are the ones suffering the most.”
