KZN Health absorbs more than 5 000 community health workers

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has announced the permanent absorption of more than 5 000 community health workers (CHWs), marking a significant milestone for frontline healthcare workers who have served communities for years under precarious contractual arrangements. Provincial Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said the move represents dignity, recognition and celebration for the workers, who continued serving communities even during periods of uncertainty about their futures. The announcement follows a protracted legal and labour struggle led by the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), which took the Department of Health to court over what it described as the exploitation of CHWs.

In January last year, the Labour Court ruled in favour of the union, paving the way for the permanent employment of the workers. This was followed by a historic agreement reached in November 2025 between Nehawu and the National Department of Health to absorb CHWs on a permanent basis. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Simelane acknowledged the central role played by community health workers during some of the province’s most significant health crises, like HIV/Aids and the Covid-19 period.

Beyond these crises, you have also fought tirelessly against other deadly diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, as well as maternal and child health challenges and chronic conditions, including diabetes and hypertension. Simelane acknowledged that the permanent employment of CHWs had been delayed for years due to severe financial constraints, requiring extensive negotiations with the National Treasury and the National Department of Health to reach a sustainable solution. It was not immediately clear how much the department or the National Treasury had budgeted for the programme.

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Nehawu’s Harry Gwala regional secretary, Mazwi Ngubane, welcomed the development, describing the Labour Court ruling as the end of the exploitation of fixed-term contracts. He said the implementation of the ruling targets approximately 27 000 workers nationally.

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