Striking doctors have received letters of dismissal over a work stoppage which centres on grievances over pay and working conditions, Dr Bandile Hadebe said on Tuesday.
“They have been handed letters of dismissal,” said Hadebe, chairperson of the Junior Doctors’ Association, an affiliate of the South African Medical Association (Sama).
Earlier, health department spokesperson JP Louw said a total of 336 doctors from George Mukhari Hospital and 24 from the Jubilee Hospital were under consideration for dismissal.
On Friday, the labour court granted an interdict against the striking doctors.
Hadebe said many doctors had opted to return to work, but those at George Mukhari Hospital outside Pretoria and Jubilee Hospital in North West had decided to continue the strike.
The department said at the time that the strike — which began earlier this month — was unprotected and unlawful.
Hadebe said that although Sama acts as the labour representative for the doctors, the association did not condone the strike.
Talks were still under way over the “occupation specific dispensation” which is meant to improve doctors’ pay and working conditions.