HEALTH workers took their grievances to the Union Buildings.
They marched from the Pretoria CBD to the Union Buildings to hand over their memorandum on Monday, 26 February.
According to Dr Marubini Dzudzanani David, the high rate of unemployment in the healthcare sector is unconstitutional, taking into consideration that healthcare is a human right.
"With us absent from those sectors, it compromises the delivery of healthcare. We've seen this recurring year after year and not challenged by anyone. We decided to come and challenge the current problem of healthcare professionals being unemployed," Dr David said.
He said reports compiled by government officials were perfect in black on white, but on the ground and service delivery, the picture is different.
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David said the government must create a system to identify interns and community service professionals who are new to the world of work and those exiting. This would enable government to plan ahead.
Dr Mumtaaz Emeran, who joined the march, said there were more 800 medical doctors and over 1 000 healthcare workers who are unemployed.
"We have a healthcare system that is deteriorating. Patients need us and hospitals are understaffed yet we have all these healthcare workers ready to serve the country but there's no funding," she said.
Emeran said the government was failing healthcare professionals and patients.
Speech therapist, Dineo Ndlela said: "We want to be employed and serve the community,"
She expressed sadness over kids going to university and facing joblessness.
Matome Alpha Serabana of Rise Mzansi in the Tshwane Metro said they support health practitioners.
He said the country was in this mess because of the current government.
Philemon Mahlangu, a representative from the Presidency, received the memorandum from the unemployed healthcare workers.
Mahlangu said he acknowledged their memorandum, and they will look at it.
