The Congress of South African Trade unions in the North West Province is concerned about the rising number of positive cases of the COVID 19 in the province since the country moved to alert level 3 

This week alone the province has seen more than 500 new cases which is close to a third of all recorded cases in the province.

There have been 101 new cases in the past 24 hours recorded at Witrand hospital in Potchefstroom, of which 88 are patients and the rest are staff members. It is highly disturbing to have a health facility recording such a high number of cases in a single day.This then call for an immediate action from the authorities in the province.

This rise is an indication that the society might not be acceding to the call for a social compact by the president to practice basic protocols as outlined in the regulations.

This also indicates that some of our facilities are not exercising control of movement in and out of the facility, and there are no thorough screening processes in place.

COSATU calls for immediate testing of all the patients and staff members at Witrand hospital and all those who test negative should be moved to a safe place for 14-day quarantine period. Those who test positive should be given treatment at the cost of the state. The hospital to be closed and disinfected

The Federation would like to advise all workers who have contracted the Coronavirus at the place of work to put up a claim with the compensation fund and all employers must assist workers to do such claims

We reiterate our call on the community of the province and all workers to continue to adhere to the protocols to minimise the rate of infection.

For more information feel free to contact the Provincial Secretary of COSATU North West comrade Kopano Konopi @ 082 339 5836