The Rep 20 November 2020

4 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 20 November 2020 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
Spinach gift to aid pupils’ health
Traditional authority takes step to help schools
ANDISA BONANI
The Amaqwathi Traditional
Authority in Ntabethemba
on Monday donated
bunches of spinach to all
schools under its jurisdiction as
a means to promote nutritional
eating habits during the Covid-
19 pandemic.
With the recent spate of
cases among pupils writing
exams and talk of a second
wave hitting some parts of the
Eastern Cape, Amaqwathi chief
Jongisizwe Hinana felt it was
most important that children
adapted to eating healthy foods.
Hinana indicated he was
approached by a local cooperative
that grew and had an
over-supply of spinach, asking
what they could do it.
“As the traditional leader of
the area I decided that since we
were still battling the
coronavirus pandemic which
has been rearing its ugly head
among pupils, it was important
to endorse healthy eating.
“The donation to the schools
is also important to bring back
the dignity of traditional
leadership since political
leaders are failing dismally. We
want to show the people they
are led by those who take care
of the people on the ground.”
About 10 schools in
Ntabethemba received between
18 and 25 bunches of spinach
each, which would be
incorporated in their nutrition
programme meant to feed
pupils without lunchboxes.
One of the recipients is
Springgrove Secondary School
principal Nobuntu Faku, who
said the donation made them
feel they were part of a caring
community with a good leader.
“This was an important
gesture to us because we are a
school that offers agriculture as
a subject, but hardly have
anything growing in our garden
to show for it.
“We previously wrote to the
agriculture department asking
that they help us prepare our
soil for gardening, which
requires an excavator to remove
all the rocks beneath it.
“We have a huge garden but
we cannot use it because of the
r o ck s .
“We would be happy if
anyone who could assist us with
removing them please contact
us, including those who could
donate seedling to start up our
garden.”
GOOD NUTRITION: Chief Jongisizwe Hinana delegated headman Nkosana Gaba, who was
accompanied by the police and other stakeholders to donate spinach to Springgrove Secondary
School Picture: SUPPLIED
Honour
those
who
lost
lives
Continued from PAGE 1
help families find closure. He
said they had experienced a
myriad of burials and had to
employ more staff to deal with
the challenge.
“We are trying to educate
people about the virus and help
families grieve through the
counselling support we provide.
“We are key roleplayers as
undertakers, particularly during
this time of the pandemic. We
know people are not always
prepared for the day when they
have to bury their loved ones.
“We were asked by families
through the ward councillor to
assist them and we answered
their call. Apart from being one
of the most affordable
companies when it comes to
funeral services, we had to lend
a helping hand without
expecting anything from our
side. I grew up in this area and I
know the level of poverty and
unemployment and that is why
we had to intervene,” he said.
Nokhwezi Skwatsha, who
lost a relative to the virus, said
some of her family members
could not attend proceedings
due to restrictions.
“My relative only survived
three days and he passed away. I
was fortunate to discover that I
had tested negative but today I
am here to pray for the infected
and the affected.”
Bishop Phumlani Jaxa, who
was previously infected with the
virus, said he was there to bring
a message of hope to
community members.
“The virus still exists and has
mentally affected people in
different forms. It can, however,
be prevented because others
have recovered from it.”
EMPLOY US: Community health care workers from Ilinge Clinic downing tools as part of the national strike called by the National Education Health and Allied
Workers Union, in which they are demanding permanent employment Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO
Ilinge community health workers join
national protest for permanent jobs
ZINTLE BOBELO
After having worked for 22 years as a
community health care worker, a
protester at the Ilinge Clinic said she only
earned R3,500 a month, and was still not
permanently employed.
The group are part of thousands of
National Education Health and Allied
Workers Union (Nehawu) members who
have embarked on a national strike
action.
According to Nehawu Matthew
Goniwe regional secretary Mvuyisi Siko,
the Public Health and Social
Development Sectoral Bargaining
Council (PHSDSBC) issued the union
with “a certificate of non-resolution for a
dispute of mutual interest which arose on
July 17 2020, after the national
department of health failed to absorb
community health care workers on a
permanent basis”.
In his statement, Siyo said the
certificate gave the union the right to
embark on a protected strike action to
demand the permanent appointment of
workers by the national department of
health, across the country.
Members who picketed outside the
clinic last week, highlighted the
challenges they faced in the line of duty.
Boniswa France said: “We used to
work as volunteers and we were
eventually provided with a stipend with
the hope that we would change from
being contract workers to permanent
e m p l oye e s .
“Instead, we are given more work
without proper payment.
“We are exposed to severe
conditions, especially during this time of
the coronavirus.
“Eight out of 10 of us contracted the
virus and we had to isolate at a nearby
farm.
“We were promised we would
received money out of a Covid-19
funding budget and will be given leave
days for working tirelessly throughout the
outbreak. None of that happened.
“We are still waiting till today. We are
now here demanding full-time
employment. We have been taken from
pillar to post without any direction.” Th e
workers said they had tabled their
grievances on numerous occassions,
without feedback.
Thembisa Mjandana said: “Th e
R3,500 we are earning is not enough.
“We do not even have proper
counselling as people who come across
hardships in the community we serve.
“We demand all the benefits provided
by government. We have worked for the
department for many years and play a
vital role in our community because
people no longer come to the clinic, we
take the services to them.”
Siyo said the union had to protect
workers from exploitation.
“Community health care workers
have been exploited and undermined by
the employer while they continue to
selflessly provide health care services
under very harsh conditions, and most of
the time with no proper working tools.
“The outbreak of the novel
coronavirus in the country has proven
beyond reasonable doubt that our health
care system, especially in the rural areas
and townships, needs the services of
these workers as they were at the
forefront of the mass screening and
testing that took place since the outbreak
of Covid-19 in the country.
“The refusal by the department of
health to permanently employ these
workers is a clear indication that the
employer, and government as a whole,
are hell-bent in attacking collective
bargaining and reversing the hard-won
gains of workers.”
Siyo said the national union would
“do anything in its powers to ensure
community health care workers are paid
at salary level three with all other benefits
enjoyed by other public servants”.
“This is a fight we are not prepared to
lose and we are prepared to hold the bull
by the horns and sleep with the hyena for
the full-time employment of these
workers including the implementation of
all outstanding collective bargaining
a g r e e m e n t s ,” he said.
Comment was not received by
provincial health spokesperson Siyanda
Manana by the time of going to print.