Three ambulance services based in the Eastern Cape have been closed by the provincial health department.
The department says workers have embarked on an unprotected strike that has crippled services in some areas of Amathole District Municipality.
The affected bases are King William’s Town, Keiskammahoek and Stutterheim.
Ambulance staff and management are not finding each other on a number of issues including overtime payment.
Department spokesperson, Lwandile Sicwetsha says they’ve had to shut down the bases and take their vehicles, but alternative arrangements have been made.
“The department is currently involved and working with labour representatives to resolve and determine who of the EMS workers qualify for the overtime payment. We are surprised and disappointed that some of the EMS workers decided not to go to work and some of them decided to book in sick at once leaving no one to service the centres. As such, the department will follow internal disciplinary processes for all implicated staff.”
