Issued by: The Office of the Executive Deputy President T.M. MBEKI
The Government is fully behind the ultimatum issued to striking nurses in the Gauteng Province by their Superintendent General Mr Ralph Mgijima that they return to work or face dismissal.
We are extremely concerned about the suffering caused to patients as a result of the strike. It must be stressed to nurses that their actions are unprocedural and endanger the lives of patients in their care.
The government is aware of and committed to resolving the genuine grievances of the nurses, all of which go back many years and long before the democratic elections of April 1994.
We call on all striking nurses to heed the ultimatum issued by Mr Mgijima and prepare their representatives to participate in the Consultative Forum set up by the Ministry of Health and scheduled to meet on September 18.
Government reiterates its complete support for Acting Minister of Health Tito Mboweni, the Ministry of Health, Premier Tokyo Sexwale and MEC for Health Amos Masondo in their efforts to settle this dispute.
We wish to assure patients and their families that the Government is doing everything within its power to bring services back to normal in all affected hospitals.
Issued by: Ricky Naidoo Office of Executive Deputy President T.M. Mbeki
Date: 7 September 1995
Tel: (021) 455 705/083 555 5189