Cape Town – Staff at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha have downed tools in a wildcat strike, demanding payment for up to five months of unpaid overtime.
The protest, which took place on Tuesday, brought services to a halt as employees blocked hospital gates, leaving patients and other staff unable to enter.
According to IOL several unions including Nupsaw, Nehawu, Denosa, Hospersa, and PSA — supported the strike. Eastern Cape Health Department spokesperson Siyanda Manana acknowledged that the action was unprotected but confirmed the department was working to finalise outstanding claims.
“We do, however, condemn the action they took when they closed the access gate, denying patients and staff access to the hospital,” Manana said, adding that the payments were going through validation and would be made.
Protesting hospital workers at Dora Nginza have shut down the dispensary and evicted patients after Public Order Policing cleared them from the hospital entrance – Reports @I_R_Glizzy
📸 Eugene Coetzee pic.twitter.com/G5F5EeJFxW
— The Herald NMB (@HeraldNMB) September 1, 2025
Nupsaw regional secretary Phumlani Matinise said that the problem stemmed from only clinical staff being paid for overtime since April, while non-clinical workers were left out. “This issue of paying clinical staff but not non-clinical staff is causing division. We’ve got a real problem,” he said.
Matinise further told the publication that management had failed to communicate with unions about when payments would be made, leaving staff in the dark. He explained that workers only realised the promised payments were missing when they checked their payslips on Saturday.
As reported by The Herald, patients were left waiting in corridors as nurses and support staff joined the strike, while doctors were forced to take on extra duties to keep critical services running. The newspaper noted that some staff apologised to patients for the disruption, while unions warned the protest would continue until all workers received their dues.
The strike is not the first time Dora Nginza Hospital staff have taken action over unpaid overtime.
GroundUp reported that in January 2025, nurses and other hospital workers downed tools over similar issues, disrupting services and leaving patients waiting.
At the time, unions criticised the Eastern Cape Health Department for failing to address staff shortages and delays in overtime payments. Management later confirmed that payments would be processed, with staff receiving overdue wages in February 2025.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Screengrab
Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
