DENOSA Mpumalanga statement on the attack of a nurse yesterday

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in Mpumalanga is disturbed by yesterday’s attack and stabbing of a nurse by a patient inside the facility at Glenmore Clinic, in the Chief Albert Luthuli Sub-District in Gert Sibande region which is a pilot site for National Health Insurance in Mpumalanga and calls for the Department to deploy armed guards in clinics like in hospitals and CHCs.

This recent incident is disturbing because DENOSA always emphasized that securities must do their work; now it’s evident that our nurses are not safe in facilities. We are reminding nurses across Mpumalanga that safety is their right at the workplace and we call on them not to agree to work in an unsafe environment and that they must inform DENOSA should their safety be compromised. We call all progressive forces to join us on the fight for safety in the workplace.

Not long ago, a doctor was shot at Mapulaneng Hospital which prompted the Department to deploy armed guards in hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs). But clinics were left out as if a health worker must first be killed or injured before safety issue is looked at.

“As DENOSA, we call on government of Mpumalanga to allow Department of Health in the province to manage safety of facilities,” says DENOSA Mpumalanga Provincial Secretary, Mzwandile Shongwe.

“Because it is evident that the Department of Safety and Security in Mpumalanga has failed to ensure safety in health facilities. We call on the Department of Health in Mpumalanga to stop outsourcing security, even where there outsourced securities, they are always found wanting and not well-resourced, let alone efficient. It’s high time that they insourced security.”

The issue of tenderpreneurs is not meant to assist workers but to loot the state. Patients are killed in health facilities, our members are being assaulted, shot at in the workplace. We call on workers to unite across all spheres to fight for their safety in the workplace which is a right that they enjoy.

Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in Mpumalanga

For more information, contact:

Mzwandile Shongwe, Mpumalanga Provincial Secretary

Mobile: 079 501 5131 or 072 564 0136

Tel: 013 752 4943