Sunday, 03 November 2024: The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Free State Province (FS) is concerned by the large number of contract workers, amounting to over a thousand, who recently lost employment in the provincial government in Free State due to ending of contracts. It is our firm view that ending the employment of these workers abruptly flies in the face of the commitment made in the ANC-led Alliance manifesto with regards to addressing the crisis levels of unemployment. The level of unemployment in Free State is worse than the already stubbornly high national average and therefore the Party urges the provincial government to focus on additional job creation rather than job-shedding.

The SACP in the province is of the firm view that the fundamental question, inspired by saving human lives in the health sector, is whether there is objective necessity for these health workers in the various institutions they were employed in to continue work rather than focusing on the administrative question of whether their contract ended.  It is undeniable that our public health institutions across the province, from clinics to hospitals, are severely under-staffed affecting the quality of health care service.

Further, most of these health workers chose to put their lives in danger during the novel Covid-19 virus pandemic, in selfless service of the country and our province, hence our serious reservation with ending their employment on the eve of the festive season. Concretely, the Party does not agree with the ending of their employment and strongly urge the provincial government to find a mechanism to immediately return these workers to employment to continue rolling out health care services. Additionally, the SACP supports and calls for measures to also absorb the Community Health Workers who continue to provide the much needed health services at community leave.

As part of this exercise to ensure continued employment of the health workers, government must consider creating sustainable decent and permanent work opportunities for these workers in the health sector. This will safeguard many families who rely on them for survival and will also cushion their families from the high cost of living crisis. 

Additionally, the SACP calls on the Department of Health to adopt a forward looking approach and prioritise upskilling of health workers in anticipation of the irreversible National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout. It is equally unacceptable that community members in Penolomi, Boitumelo, Fezi Ngubentombi Hospital, and many more are facing untold sufferings, with bed shortages, inadequate medical supplies, and medical equipment when private health care facilities in the province are empty with the best health care equipment underutilised. It is for this reason that the SACP

continues to support and call for immediate rollout of universal access to health care through NHI, rather than revision of provisions necessary for its implementation. The SACP expects the ANC led provincial government to put people's lives before neo-liberal social budget-cut austerity priorities, inspired by the IMF and World Bank as well as their domestic surrogate the DA, and ensure the affected workers find employment. This is not merely a question of their employment but also about safeguarding provision of health care in the province and saving lives. It is for this reason that the SACP initiated direct interactions with the Alliance to work jointly, and engage government deployees to find a mechanism to employ these health workers in the province.

ISSUED BY SACP FREE STATE PROVINCE

Contact:

Bheke Stofile – SACP Free State Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 071 600 4899
Phillip Kganyago – SACP Free State Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 071 896 0157

Issued by the South African Communist Party,
Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.
 
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Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, Central Committee Member
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