IHAWU

12/08/2026

12/08/2026

Good Day, IHAWU Members

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11/08/2026

09/08/2026

A WOMEN’S DAY REFLECTION

Women’s Day is more than a day on the calendar where we celebrate women with beautiful messages and flowers. It is a day of reflection, remembrance and action. It reminds us of the courage of the women who stood up against injustice and inequality, and of the responsibility we have today to continue fighting for a society where women are respected, protected and given equal opportunities.

I think particularly about the women working in our healthcare system. Women make up a significant part of the healthcare workforce, and every day they carry responsibilities that extend far beyond their job descriptions. They care for patients, support families, mentor students and younger colleagues, manage households and continue serving their communities, often while dealing with their own personal challenges.

The reality for many women in healthcare is not easy. They work in understaffed facilities, face enormous workloads, experience workplace pressures and are sometimes exposed to verbal abuse, harassment and violence. Many work long and irregular hours and then return home to another set of responsibilities. There are women who are exhausted but continue because patients need them. There are women who are struggling emotionally but still put on their uniforms and show up for work because they know that someone is depending on them.

We must therefore be careful when we celebrate the resilience of women. We should not romanticise a situation where women are constantly expected to be strong simply because the systems around them have failed to support them. A woman should not have to reach breaking point before someone asks if she is okay. She should not have to experience injustice before her voice is taken seriously. She should not have to sacrifice her health, dignity or family life simply to prove her commitment to her profession.

For IHAWU, Women’s Day must be about more than celebration. It must be about advocacy, representation and meaningful change. Women in healthcare deserve safe working environments, fair treatment, equal opportunities, protection from discrimination and harassment, adequate staffing, decent working conditions and workplaces where their concerns are heard and addressed.

We also need to recognise that healthcare workers are human beings before they are professionals. The nurse who cares for a patient also needs care. The healthcare worker who comforts a grieving family may also be carrying her own grief. The woman who spends her day caring for others deserves an environment that allows her to care for herself too.

This Women’s Day, I salute every woman in healthcare who continues to serve despite the challenges. I recognise your contribution, your sacrifices and the strength you demonstrate every day. But I also want you to know that your value is not determined by how much you can endure. You deserve support, dignity, protection and an opportunity to thrive.

As IHAWU, we will continue to advocate for the rights and wellbeing of healthcare and allied workers because protecting those who care for others is not a privilege. It is a responsibility.

To every woman in healthcare, your work matters, your voice matters and your wellbeing matters. May this Women’s Day remind us that we must not only celebrate the women who keep our healthcare system going, but also fight for the conditions they deserve.

Happy Women’s Day to the women who care for our nation.

Lerato Mthunzi
Independent Health & Allied Workers Union (IHAWU)
The Shield of Healthcare Workers

06/08/2026

💚 IHAWU CARES

You care for others. Let us care for you.

Being a healthcare worker isn’t easy.

Behind every uniform is a human being who also experiences stress, burnout, grief, anxiety, workplace challenges, family pressures, financial worries, and emotional exhaustion.

Whether you are a student nurse, healthcare professional, support worker, or allied health professional, you do not have to face life’s challenges alone.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed…

If you need someone who understands the realities of healthcare…

If you need someone to simply listen…

If you’re struggling at work or in your personal life…

If you don’t know where to turn…

Reach out to IHAWU.

Our team will:
🤝 Listen without judgment
💚 Offer compassionate support
🧭 Help you navigate difficult situations
📋 Guide you through workplace challenges
📞 Refer you to appropriate professional services when needed

Sometimes the first step towards healing is simply talking to someone who understands.

You are not alone.

You matter.

Your wellbeing matters.

📞 CONTACT IHAWU

📍 Marlborough House
127 Fox Street, Johannesburg

📧 [email protected]
📧 [email protected]

🌐 www.ihawu.org.za

☎ Member Line: 065 922 5253

☎ Case Line: 075 947 4924

06/08/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IHAWU EXTENDS ITS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC PASSING OF A NURSING STUDENT AT CHRIS HANI BARAGWANATH NURSING COLLEGE

06 August 2026

The Independent Health and Allied Workers Union (IHAWU) is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of a first-year nursing student from Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College. We extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, fellow students, lecturers, and everyone who has been affected by this devastating loss.

The passing of a young person who had dedicated her life to answering the noble calling of nursing is a profound tragedy. At a time when South Africa desperately needs compassionate healthcare professionals, the loss of one of our future nurses is felt by the entire nursing fraternity.

We acknowledge the statement issued by the Gauteng Department of Health indicating that the South African Police Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident. IHAWU welcomes this commitment and calls for a thorough, transparent, impartial, and expeditious investigation. We urge all stakeholders to allow the investigative process to unfold without speculation or premature conclusions regarding the cause of death.

The family deserves truthful answers, and the public deserves confidence that every aspect surrounding this tragedy will be investigated with integrity and professionalism.

While the investigation proceeds, this heartbreaking incident should also serve as an opportunity for serious reflection on the living conditions and safety of student nurses residing in nursing college residences across Gauteng.

For many years, concerns have been raised regarding the condition of some student residences, including issues relating to infrastructure, maintenance, security, access control, emergency response systems, mental health support, and the overall wellbeing of students living away from their families. Regardless of the outcome of the current investigation, these concerns warrant urgent attention.

IHAWU therefore calls upon the Gauteng Department of Health to undertake a comprehensive review of all nursing student residences across the province to ensure that they provide:

* Safe and secure accommodation with adequate security measures.
* Dignified and well-maintained living conditions.
* Accessible psychosocial and mental health support services.
* Functional emergency response and reporting mechanisms.
* Regular inspections to ensure compliance with health, safety and accommodation standards.

Our student nurses are not merely students; they are the future custodians of South Africa’s healthcare system. They deserve environments that protect their safety, preserve their dignity, and support both their academic journey and emotional wellbeing.

We also encourage students who may be experiencing emotional distress following this incident to make use of the counselling and psychosocial support services made available by the Gauteng Department of Health and their respective institutions. No student should suffer in silence.

As a union committed to protecting healthcare workers and future healthcare professionals, IHAWU stands in solidarity with the bereaved family, fellow students, lecturers, and the broader nursing community during this difficult period.

May the family find strength, comfort, and peace in the days ahead, and may the memory of this young student continue to inspire compassion and service to humanity.

“An injury to one healthcare worker is an injury to the entire profession. The loss of one future nurse is a loss to the nation.”

Issued by:
Independent Health and Allied Workers Union (IHAWU)

Contact Persons

Lerato Mthunzi | Rich Sicina
0658230082 | 0606821672

Marlborough House | 127 Fox Street | Jhb
(next to CCMA)

𝕁𝕆𝕀ℕ𝕀ℕ𝔾 𝕀ℍ𝔸𝕎𝕌:
Join online via the link below 👇🏽

https://ihawu.org.za/online-membership-form/

Member Support Contacts:
member line: 0659225253
case line: 0759474924
email: [email protected]
website: www.ihawu.org.za