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The #FreeZuma protests have captured the globe’s attention, with Newcastillians agonising over the outcome. Will the Rule of Law prevail, setting a standard from now on? Or will insanity consume the country as the days march on?
As protestors unleash havoc, the carnage left in their wake is fast-tallying up. In a statement released by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, it was stated that conservative estimates concerning damage to private and public property amount to around R100 million.
However, the information is still being collated, and the register is still running.
Moreover, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has commenced with pre-deployment processes and procedures in line with a request for assistance from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) to assist law enforcement agencies deployed in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal Provinces, respectively. Support from the SANDF being a requirement in quelling the unrest coursing through both Provinces over the past few days.
In a statement from the Director of Defence Corporate Communication, Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi, “The duration and number of deploying soldiers will be determined based on the assessment of the situation on the ground by the relevant law enforcement agencies.” Furthermore, Brigadier General Mgobozi emphasised, the SANDF’s deployment objective is to provide safety and a safe working environment for members of the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies while they carry out their Constitutionally mandated law and order duties.
SANDF deployment-related information updates will follow in due course.
Following this, there prowls yet another major issue as a direct result of the protests—one endangering the lives of both patients and medical staff. Several Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are currently declining to travel to transfer patients between the various medical facilities.
TRIVS Medical Services Private Ambulance Manager Duresha Jugernath explains, “We have patients who are ill, but we cannot go out. We have to decline people who were meant to be transferred. People are suffering because of the riots.” Paramedics have been stopped from entering Madadeni, and there have been incidents in other parts of KZN where ambulances were stoned.
Furthermore, hospitals are also being negatively impacted by the riots. As a result, Mediclinic Southern Africa (MCSA) states that although some hospital operations have been affected due to civil unrest within specific areas of KwaZulu-Natal and, to a lesser extent at this stage, Gauteng—contingency steps are in place to mitigate the risks possessed to patients and staff while ensuring ongoing uncompromised excellent patient care. “The unrest in KwaZulu Natal and in Gauteng has impacted some key public infrastructure and access roads. The ongoing, fluid situation is closely monitored in the interest of MCSA patients and staff. Access to some of the MCSA facilities is challenging, while delivery of some supplies as well as movement of patients between facilities have been impacted.”
The measures in place include:
- Contingency staffing.
- The temporary closure of the vaccination centres in areas at risk in line with the Department of Health’s directive in this regard.
- The cancellation of elective surgeries in areas of unrest.
The hospital group further states, “MCSA is also endeavouring to secure the delivery of critical supplies like oxygen at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. MCSA assures our communities of our unwavering commitment to serving their healthcare needs and ask for understanding if care is affected due to the unrest.”
Adding to this, eThekwini Municipality has issued an urgent notice, stating its healthcare facilities (clinics) and community vaccination sites are closed today, 12 July 2021, due to ongoing civil unrest across the City.
The eThekweni Municipality’s statement reads, “The Municipality has closed its clinics due to threats that have been directed at health facilities in the City. The ongoing civil unrest has also affected community vaccination sites which have been unable to operate today. The Municipality will reassess the situation during the day and advise the public accordingly.”
Moreover, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has urged the public to protect and enable healthcare professionals to get to work – including nurses, doctors and ambulance operators – so that they can continue with the critical task of saving people’s lives.
This comes as healthcare facilities across the province buckle under pressure due to widespread community protests, resulting in the blockading of critical arterial routes, making public mobility difficult.
Numerous hospitals, Community Health Centres and clinics across KwaZulu-Natal have been operating on skeletal staff, with multiple nurses, doctors, allied health workers and support staff unable to report for work due to the blockades and a lack of public transport. Many working the night shift also could not go home for the same reasons.
Patients who were due to undergo elective surgery and those with minor ailments have been advised not to come to hospitals, until the situation returns to normal.
In a statement issued by the Department, there have been some instances where vehicles were barred from delivering much-needed oxygen, intended for use by patients battling COVID – 19 and other ailments. Adding to this, the protests have all but put a stop to the province’s all-important COVID – 19 vaccination programme.
In Howick, an ambulance was burned, while another was stoned in Marriannhill.
There have also been reports of delays with the collection of mortal remains, as Forensic Pathology Services battle to reach scenes where people have passed away. They are also unable to collect bodies from Primary Health Care facilities (clinics) that do not have mortuaries.
The unrest has also affected the functioning of the Department’s critical 24-hour Provincial Health Operations Centre, which serves as a link between it and the public. However, the public can still contact the Department by calling 031 480 3718.
Reacting to the situation, KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said, “As Government does its best to deal with this situation, we are pleading with each and every individual to create a situation where healthcare workers are not impeded from getting to work. Those who are protesting need to realise that by blocking health workers or ambulances from doing their job, they could be placing the lives of their own relatives in jeopardy.”
She stressed that several people in various hospitals are fighting for their lives, who need to be attended to by our doctors and nurses as a matter of urgency. Some are in critical condition, in ICU, while others are in labour and need to go into theatre. “We really cannot afford a situation where lives are lost just because our healthcare workers cannot get to work. All over the world, in every crisis situation, there must always be a way to accommodate and insulate health professionals. We are therefore pleading with the protesters and the general public at large not to interfere with health workers.”
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