The overlooked Community Health Care Workers(CHWs) remain uncertain as to whether they will ever be absorbed by the Northern Cape Department of Health and when, after they claim to have been told by the Acting HOD Oupa Phiri that there is no money to do so.
That is, after only 595 CHWs were absorbed in December 2025, with promises that more CHWs will follow. Priority was also given to those with a matric certificate and a Persal Number.
The response triggered an unprotected strike by Hospersa, resulting in the closure of Francis Baard clinics for three days.
The office of the Acting HOD issued an ultimatum notice in terms of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, of implementing a no work no pay principle, disciplinary action or dismissal.
The letter read: “In terms of Section 68 of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, the employer may seek appropriate relief and take disciplinary action against employees participating in an unprotected strike. You are hereby instructed to abandon your unlawful act with immediate effect and return to your respective stations and resume your normal duties.
Should you fail to return to work and remain at work stations as instructed, the employer reserves the right to take disciplinary action against you, which may include dismissal.”
Tensions, however, remain high as the appointed CHWs now prefer to remain at the health institutions instead of going out to the field, to avoid tensions in the field of work, and victimization.
The newly absorbed CHWs refuse to express their relief at finally being public servants, as they feel their colleagues were treated unfairly.
The benefits come with a level 2 Salary post with Pension, Medical Aid, Housing Allowance, and UIF since 1 September 2025.
Their un-appointed colleagues accused them of entitlement and were now protected from walking in the sun while they were all fighting for those benefits.
They received an interim stipend increase of R1000.00.
Nupsaw intensified its call for the department to release the recruitment data, pinpointing unknown and undeserving beneficiaries.
Provincial Secretary Orateng Disipi said they have no intentions to engage in any strike as it will affect service delivery.
“We will continue to engage with the department to fight for our members who were overlooked. Those who do not have a matric certificate have been empowered through Home-Based care programs and Re Engineering Courses, which enabled them to do the work and relieving pressure on the understaffed health institutions. That should count for something,” she said.
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