Healthcare Workers March to Union Buildings Over Unemployment

Healthcare professionals, including doctors, dieticians, physiotherapists, and nurses, donned in their scrubs, gathered at the Union Buildings on Monday to protest and demand government action on unemployment in the health sector. The demonstration, organized by the South African Medical Trade Union, mirrors a similar protest in Pietermaritzburg earlier in the month, where over 80 unemployed doctors protested at the health department’s offices in KwaZulu-Natal.

The march primarily comprises doctors, including some who are currently employed but empathize with their jobless counterparts. Dr. Dzudzanani Marubini, representing the group, emphasized the need for the government to cease cost-cutting measures and actively hire healthcare workers. He stressed the importance of recognizing their role in upholding constitutional management of basic human rights.

This protest follows Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla’s acknowledgment last month of the widespread unemployment of doctors across the country, highlighting the financial challenges faced by the health sector. The professionals are urging the government to address these issues and ensure the employment of healthcare workers to meet the demands of the healthcare system.