DA LAYS CHARGE OF INTIMIDATION AGAINST SAMWU

This morning, I layed a charge of intimidation against the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), at the Jeppe Police Station, for allegedly closing the municipal clinic in Bezuidenhout Valley in east Johannesburg.

Jeppe Police officers accompanied me to the clinic and removed a handwritten notice on the clinics gate, which read: "Attention All, This facility will be closed for the duration of the municipality workers strike, For more info call: 011 331 1001, SAMWU office."

I have layed this charge as it is high time that this union is held accountable for possible illegal action. Patients, who can no longer use the clinic, have been severely inconvenienced and denied their constitutional right to access to health care. Nurses at the clinic are not members of SAMWU, so the clinic should be open.

This is an important case that the union will have to answer to.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom, MPL, DA Gauteng health spokesman, April 20 2010

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