Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - May 27, 2007
Dumisane Lubisi

At least 3000 people to whom the health department pays monthly stipends of between R500 and R1000 have had their cash cut off - although they are still caring for terminally ill patients and counselling people taking HIV tests.

Metro has learnt that the health workers received no payments for April and it is feared that they will not be paid for May either - because of what workers say is explained away as the "dry season".

Many say they have been left with no money for transport to clinics or sick people's homes. Some rely on the money to buy food and pay school fees.

Caregivers claim that the salary freeze happens in April and May every year, and say that health officials put this down to the "dry season" - the first two months of the new financial year.

Provincial health department spokesman Zanele Mngadi said that the department had not paid nongovernmental organisations - which, she said, were responsible for paying health workers - "because they have not met the requirements as set by the department".

"The requirements include the submission of tax clearance certificates, business plans and audited financial statements," she said.

But this was disputed by Tricia Lovell of House of Hope, a home-based care organisation in Kempton Park. She said NGOs did not receive money from the government, and stipends were paid directly to health workers.

"So payments of their stipends is not dependent on whether NGOs have met those requirements, since it has nothing to do with them. Counsellors need to be paid for work done at clinics and hospitals," she said.

Lindiwe Radebe, who has worked as an HIV counsellor for four years at the Kempton Park municipal clinic, is still searching for someone to explain why she has not received her money - but she is not surprised.

"It happens every year during this time.

"The officials are making us run around, but no one gives us a clear answer to these problems," she said.

Three counsellors at a clinic in Reiger Park, near Boksburg, last received their stipends in February .

"We have not received the money, but we are expected to be here every day to provide counselling. They have not given us a clear answer as to why we have not been paid for the past two months," said counsellor Vinolia Kavigo.

In Mfolo, Soweto, counsellors and health workers had to endure three months without cash between December and February. They were only paid in March.

Community healthcare worker Phindi Sithole said the department was treating health workers unfairly.

"If I leave this job, I will be killing the nation. We are in this job to help people who can't get to clinics to receive healthcare because they are sick," she said.

Thandi Linganisa, a counsellor at Vosloorus polyclinic in Ekurhuleni, is also waiting for her money.

"We have no money to come to the clinic to do our work, and can't afford to buy food for our families. They also monitor us as to whether we are coming to the clinic or not, but they do not care whether we have received our money or not," she said.

In Randfontein, west of Joburg, counsellors received their April stipends only last week; they are not certain whether they will be paid this month.

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