Healthcare workers affiliated with the Public Servants Association (PSA) are picketing outside the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi, south of Durban.

The workers are complaining about poor working conditions. They say that the hospital has been without water for two weeks affecting hygiene and patient care.

According to the workers, the hospital is also facing a critical shortage of medication.

PSA provincial manager Mlungisi Ndlovu says the provincial Health Department has not taken any action to address their concerns.

“For this reason, we call upon Human Rights Commission to investigate the situation, the MEC to be involved. We’ve attended this matter for more than three times, in 2023, 2024, now it’s 2025.”

Patients are calling on the Department of Health to address what they say is a looming humanitarian disaster at the hospital.

These patients, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of victimisation, say they were turned away.

“The reason why I am complaining is because there is no water and there is shortage of nurses and doctors. Toilets inside are smelling and are closer to where children are seated while waiting for the nurses to attend them. So, the toilets are closed because there’s no water,” a patient says.

“I come inside and I arrived here around 5am but they told us that there is no water. So, I have decided to go home and even if they give you medication, it’s not enough and this force us to come back the following day. The situation here is not good at all in this hospital. This situation shouldn’t be at the hospital,” adds another patient.