Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

THOUSANDS of patients face being turned away from public hospitals tomorrow if a wildcat strike by South Africa’s 18000 disgruntled state doctors goes ahead.

The South African Medical Association (Sama) said yesterday it expected a “total shutdown” in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, followed by the rest of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.

By late yesterday neither the South African National Defence Force nor the private hospital sector — both central to government’s strike contingency plans — had received requests for help.

Sama spokesman Lebogang Phahladira said members had “overwhelmingly” decided to strike. Doctors would report for duty and sign attendance registers but would not treat patients.

“None of the departments will be operational and we will not see any patients, even in an emergency. We will not work until our demands are met,” said Phahladira.

Sama wants a minimum 50% salary increase for its 7000-odd members. Government has offered 5%, but a revised deal will be presented at a bargaining council meeting on Wednesday.

Sama chairman Mac Lukhele said although many members planned to strike, the union had appealed for patience until the outcome of the meeting. Some have agreed to hold off on strike action.

A spokesman for the Hospital Association of South Africa, Kurt Worrall-Clare, said the group had had no requests for help. He said that in the past the association, representing all major private hospitals, had received formal requests from the government at least two or three days before anticipated strikes.

Morgan Chetty, chairman of the KZN Managed Care Coalition representing some 3500 doctors in the private sector, said they would not have enough doctors to help out if asked.

Defence spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said the SANDF had not been asked to assist.

The KZN MEC for health, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, said yesterday the department did not believe outside assistance was necessary because there was no crisis.

But in Gauteng on Friday, a provincial memo to Johannesburg hospitals requested contingency plans be put in place and strike committees set up.

Gauteng health spokesman Mandla Sidu said it was the “prerogative” of hospital chief executives to request SANDF and private sector assistance.

Western Cape health spokesman Faiza Steyn said the province had a “sufficient pool” of doctors, including part-time doctors, military doctors and agency staff, to draw from.