Johannesburg - Gauteng MEC for Health and Social Development, Qedani Mahlangu, has called for an urgent meeting to discuss the recent strike action by emergency services workers.
Emergency personnel including ambulance, fire trucks and paramedic crews downed tools on Tuesday over an apparent delay in the implementation of a wage agreement.
According to the South African Municipal Workers Union, the department had last year promised to implement new salary structures early in May this year.
However, the Johannesburg Emergency Services denied that there was a salary agreement reached, and called the protest illegal.
The strike action turned violent when emergency service workers allegedly started a fire at the training academy at the Brixton fire station. It is alleged that striking were responsible for the incident.
Ms Mahlangu said while the department understands the right of workers to raise their grievances, vandalism and destruction to property will not be tolerated. "Those engaging in acts of vandalism must be dealt with according to the law," she said.
The meeting between the City of Johannesburg and senior emergency services management will take place on Thursday. It is expected that they will look at the impact of the strike and ways of resolving the dispute between workers and management.
The department assured members of the public that all emergency calls of the municipality have been rerouted to the Gauteng Provincial Emergency Management Services call centre to ensure minimal disruption to services.
