
The unemployed doctors who had gathered for a sit-in at the Natalia building on Tuesday night were removed by the police from the building.
The doctors say Health Minister Joe Phaahla did not keep his promise to employ young unemployed doctors in public hospitals by April 1.
Unemployed doctor Refiloe Mokoena from the Amajuba District said that they still do not know why they were removed from the premises.
“We were sitting here peacefully. We did not damage any property, we did not do any littering. We were just sitting. And then out of nowhere, the police told us to vacate the premises and that if we did not oblige, they would use force,” said Mokoena.
ALSO READ | Doctors camp outside Natalia building to protest against lack of jobs
Avoiding any form of commotion, the doctors evacuated the premises.
“We sat outside the gate the whole night. Although the police stayed with us the whole night, we were still not safe as anything could have happened to us” said Mokoena.
On Wednesday morning the unemployed doctors were still outside the Natalia buildings and their representatives are currently inside in discussions with the Department of Health officials.
“From this meeting we are hoping to get what we were promised and that is employment by the beginning of April 2024,” said Mokoena.
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