28 August 2014 - Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has expressed solidarity with 127 community health workers and members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) who will be appearing in court on 1 September in Bloemfontein, South Africa. They are facing charges in relation to their arrest following a peaceful night vigil on 10 July and a peaceful demonstration on 11 July. The community health workers and activists sought to highlight challenges plaguing the public health sector and demand dignified working conditions in South Africa’s Free State province.
“For over a year we have released alerts, stating our concern over a slowly collapsing public health system, the evidence of which is borne out of the many stories we receive on a frequent basis from those who are dependent on this crumbling health system,” said Sello Mokhaliphi, TAC Free State Provincial Chairperson. “We as the TAC, community health care workers and the government need to work together to improve it instead of fighting one another.”
The community health workers and activists came together to hold a night vigil on 10 July against the decision of the Free State government to terminate the contracts of community health workers without any explanation. The vigil was organised after several requests to meet with the Free State Member of the Executive Council (provincial minister) responsible for the health portfolio and senior officials were ignored. The arrested persons were charged under Section 12 of the Gatherings Act for organising a protest without informing the police. Police also assaulted a TAC leader during the arrests, leaving him with bruises on his face.
“It is deeply unfortunate that scores of community health workers and activists are being persecuted for organising a peaceful protest at a time when South Africa is celebrating 20 years of democracy and freedom,” said Mandeep Tiwana, Head of Policy and Research at CIVICUS. “The circumstances of the arrests and subsequent legal proceedings fly in the face of the values underpinning South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.”
CIVICUS urges South Africa’s Free State authorities to act in the constitutional interest by dropping all legal proceedings against the community health workers and TAC activists for their act of peaceful protest.
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