S. African health workers march for better salaries

South Africa's National Education Health and Allied Worker Union (Nehawu) protested in various parts of the country on Friday, demanding higher salaries and better working conditions.

Nehawu is the largest public sector union in the country with 235,000 members.

The protests broke out in places including Pretoria, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. The medics marched in Pretoria and delivered a memorandum to the Department of Social Development with various demands.

Nehawu general secretary Bereng Soke read the memorandum before handing it over to the government official. He said the government has not properly aligned their salary scales to retain skilled staff.

"We demand the implementation of accelerated grade progression, introduction of rural allowance and provision of working tools," Soke said.

Nehawu president Mzwandile Makwayiba told Xinhua that the Department of Social Development had been not responding to their communications for the two to iron out their differences.

Lumka Oliphant, spokesperson of the Department of Social Development, however said they are prepared to negotiate with the workers.

"The department has done a lot of work around the issue of rural allowance with the interests of the workers at heart and we maintain that the workers' demands are genuine. However, these demands should be considered within the context of the country's current economic climate and overall financial situation as well as other competing priorities of national importance," Oliphant said.

She said the government is committed to ensure the safety of all workers. Endit