Reports indicate that bins and black bags containing rubbish ranging from paper to half-eaten food were emptied along the corridors‚ contaminating what is meant to be a hygienic environment. Further reports have also emerged that protestors have opened taps, allowing water to flood and run through entire sections of the hospital.

Of immense concern to the Commission, are reports that the protestors had threatened patients at the hospital and blocked the entrance to the facility. These actions are in clear violation of the inalienable rights as set out in Section 27 (1) and (3) of the Bill of Rights. They are shocking and completely unacceptable in a society that prides itself on constitutional and democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. It is unacceptable when demonstrators, be they workers, union members or other formations, resort to acts that deny the sick their right of access to health care. Their actions violate the Constitution and the law and sink below what is morally justifiable.
The Commission urges all protestors to desist from infringing on the rights of patients in need of healthcare. Through denying access to the facility and the damage of equipment in violent protests, not only are people’s rights to healthcare affected, in the short-term, but the accompanying damage to valuable lifesaving healthcare infrastructure will also have long-term effects on the right to access to healthcare services.

Our Constitution protects the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining, including the right to strike and demonstrate. And while the Commission will always support and protect these rights, it is of the firm view that these rights should not be exercised in such a way that such exercise infringes on the rights of others, in particular the rights of those that are infirm, vulnerable and in more urgent need of healthcare services.  It is therefore sad that the manner in which workers enforce their rights threatens the lives of the sickly in health care centres. They have no stake in the dispute.
Whilst condemning these actions, the Commission urges government to meet its obligations towards its own workers to avoid such acts.

The Commission has decided to call a national dialogue to be held in the not too distant future, to talk about the growing trend of workers using patients as means to air their complains and a way of trying to find quick solutions.

The SAHRC’s Gauteng Provincial Manager and his team did a site inspection at the hospital this afternoon and confirmed most of the reports in relation to the protest action. However, at the time of the inspection, patients were being attended to and cleaning processes had commenced. The Gauteng Provincial Office has a prearranged meeting with the CEO of Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, for the 7th June 2018, to discuss other matters.  The Provincial team will now use this meeting as an opportunity to discuss the protest as well.

Ends
Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission

Gail Smith – Spokesperson Tel: 060 988 3792 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.