Health services in Nelson Mandela Bay have resumed at Dora Nginza Regional Hospital and Motherwell Community Health Centre following days of disruption caused by an unprotected strike and repeated security breaches.
The Eastern Cape Health Department confirmed that staff have returned to work and both facilities are now fully operational. The department acknowledged the adverse impact on patients during the disruptions and issued an apology to affected communities. Authorities have also confirmed that disciplinary processes are underway and a court interdict has been obtained against individuals accused of disrupting services.
DENOSA Eastern Cape Chairperson Vuyo Nodlawu stated that the union is now on the same page as the department and the broader community in prioritising service delivery. He emphasised that DENOSA was the first to raise the alarm about deteriorating conditions, particularly at Motherwell Community Health Centre, which experienced approximately 12 to 13 break-ins within a two-week period.
According to Nodlawu, staff at Motherwell reached a breaking point after healthcare workers were held at gunpoint and had their lives threatened. This prompted the union to engage the department with clear demands focused on staff and patient safety. Short-term demands included upgrading security systems with proper access control gates, installing sufficient cameras (noting that some were placed only on the perimeter rather than inside where incidents occur), cutting trees at the rear of the facility to prevent unauthorised entry, and fitting burglar-proof windows.
Initial engagements with district management resulted in only six windows being installed out of 31 required, which the union rejected. The matter was escalated provincially, leading to commitments for comprehensive security upgrades.
The disruptions at Motherwell forced patient diversions to Dora Nginza Hospital, exacerbating long-standing staff shortages there. Nodlawu highlighted that these shortages have reached critical levels across the Nelson Mandela Bay health district, contributing to poor service delivery and previous overtime-related tensions.
He noted that staff shortages have led to situations where off-duty employees were called in to cover shifts, resulting in overtime claims. However, the department reportedly halted such payments in some instances, while also citing budget constraints for hiring additional personnel. The union maintains that increasing staffing numbers is essential to reduce reliance on overtime and ensure quality care.
Nodlawu indicated that DENOSA initiated discussions with the department to address both immediate security concerns and longer-term solutions. He confirmed that a further meeting was scheduled for 2:00 pm on the day of the interview to discuss employment needs as the primary critical issue, alongside measures to manage limited overtime in a sustainable way without compromising crisis response.
The union stressed that its actions were driven by the need to protect both employees and patients seeking healthcare, rather than any intent to halt services indefinitely. DENOSA has advocated for short-term security interventions to allow continued service delivery while pushing for provincial-level resolutions on staffing.
The Eastern Cape Health Department had earlier briefed the media on efforts to restore operations and address the underlying challenges, including the role of security concerns that contributed to the initial closure of services at Motherwell. Reports during the briefing also touched on external factors, such as extortion gangs allegedly interfering with security upgrade work at the Motherwell facility, though the union noted it had to seek confirmation on this point after receiving information from healthcare workers on the ground.
Services at both Dora Nginza Regional Hospital and Motherwell Community Health Centre are now reported as back to normal, with the department and DENOSA indicating a shared commitment to preventing future disruptions through improved security infrastructure and addressing critical staff shortages.
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