Protests cannot put lives of people in danger - Health Department

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Gloria Motsoere

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Health will now work with police in Mpumalanga to prevent community protests from interfering with operations at the Temba Hospital.

The hospital shut its doors following a community protest that turned violent, leading to the assault of staff and patients.

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The facility was out of commission for three weeks, after medical practitioners were advised by their unions to down tools until the matter was resolved.

The department said that while communities had the right to protest, it could not put the lives of people in danger.

It has commended police in the region for their swift response in attending to the matter, saying the police stand ready to attend to any disruptions at the hospital.