By Karabo Rammutla
Staff at Kalafong Hospital formed a violent picket line on Wednesday, preventing patients from entering the building to receive treatment.
The staff were protesting unworkable conditions at the hospital in Pretoria, accusing its CEO Sello Matjila of bullying, nepotism, favouritism and modern slavery.
They only have one demand: for Sello Matjila to be fired. They say that they will not protest on Thursday but if Matjila is not gone by Monday morning, they will return to the picket.
Gathering at the hospital’s entrance at 8am, workers kicked over trolleys carrying patients’ food, intimidated non-protesting staff, and tried to stop reporters from taking their pictures.
Because of the protests, some patients missed meals and others missed their appointments.
A worker at the hospital, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Matjila ruled the hospital with an iron fist.
They said, however, that friends and those who were close to him had it easy.
“It’s raining warning forms in this hospital. We are made to work ridiculous hours with him breathing down our necks – he wants to push us out and bring his people in,” the worker said.
An outpatient who was due for an important operation said he had to miss it.
“I’ve been waiting for this operation for six months and today no one told me what’s going on. It might take me another six months or maybe I’ll die before I get this operation,” he said.
He said the employees behaved like hooligans.
“You wouldn’t believe that those people are educated nurses and clerks. They were violent, used vulgar language and trashed files and food.”
Scrolla.Africa contacted Motalatale Modiba of the Gauteng Department of Health who said he was on leave. He referred the publication to office manager Kgomotso Mbonambi, who promised to respond but had not replied by the time of publication.
Pictured above: Protesting staff at Kalafong hospital in Atteridgeville blocked patients from accessing the facility
Picture source: Karabo Rammutla
