Taxi strike affects healthcare facilities

Several healthcare facilities in the Western Cape are closed because of the ongoing taxi industry strike.

According to the provincial Department of Health and Wellness, many workers were unable to go to work today because of the strike.

The department says services in the affected areas will be suspended until it is safe to reopen the facilities.

Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness Chief of Operations, Doctor Saadiq, Kariem, says they will continue to monitor the situation.

“We remain committed to the safety of our staff who are caught in the middle of these incidents of violence and disruption. Certain facilities within the Metropole are closed today and community-based care to our vulnerable clients in these areas has unfortunately also been suspended until it is safe for our staff to go into them,” Dr Kariem said.

“We are in regular communication with the Provincial Joint Operations Centre to monitor the safety of both our staff and patients. Unfortunately, we are again forced to operate at a reduced capacity within the Cape Metropole as well as certain rural areas,” he said.

 

Done by: Alungile Njemla