When Emily Rashekgole left her temporary nursing job of six years in the private sector in 2020, she had hope that her life would change for the better.
Even though she joined the public sector on a three-month contract, she was delighted when it was renewed for a year, with the department of health promising her permanent employment.
However, that has not happened and all her dreams were shattered.
On Wednesday, Rashekgole joined about 1,000 people whose contracts were not renewed by the department of health in protest against the move not to keep them in its employ.
They want the National Treasury to make funds available to keep them employed.
These included people hired as nurses, security personnel and general workers.
“We were working in a very difficult environment and getting small wages. The department disappointed us by not keeping their promise of hiring us permanently,” said Rashekgole, a mother of two. “I'm stuck at home without a job and no income to support my family.”
She said she spends around R1,500 for transport for her children to get to school and their lunch.
“I'm really struggling without a salary. I can't cope and I wish the government could listen to our cries and hire us. I don't qualify for the R350 [social relief of distress grant] and I'm currently relying on my mother's grant,” said Rashekgole.
The angry protesters, led by the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union, handed over a memorandum of demands to the National Treasury and department of health.
They have given the departments seven days to respond to their demands.
Like Rashekgole, Easter Manganyi was ecstatic when she got a contract in the public sector.
“I was able to support my child but now I'm sad, without a job and no [other] source of income,” said Manganyi.
“I had to look after 50 patients alone in a ward and I was paid peanuts. I was hoping that after 15 months of working [for the government] I would be employed permanently but I am not,” said Manganyi.
She said she now depends on relatives for survival.
President of the union, Rich Sicina, said the organisation was formed in 2015 and their aim was to push the system to do the right thing and employ nurses and get rid of gross shortages of staff in health facilities.
“We are pleading with both departments to do the right thing and keep their promise and give healthcare workers permanent positions and not contracts,” said Sicina.
He said they will march to the Union Buildings and to the office of the president (Cyril Ramaphosa) if both departments don't respond.
“We will shut down the healthcare system in SA and we will sleep there until we get answers.”
Treasury director of corporate services Lutendo Ramalebana promised to take the memorandum to minister Joe Phaahla and respond within seven days.
Chief negotiator in the department of health, Joseph Ngaka, also promised to respond to the demands.
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