
Costs order a lesson about ‘frivolous’ Covid-19 claims – labour court
The first case testing whether sufficient protection was available for medical staff working on the front line against the coronavirus in South Africa, has resulted in an ignominious conclusion for the union that brought the legal action.
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) launched its challenge as a matter of urgency in the South African labour court, alleging that the government was not providing adequate protective gear to Nehawu members working in particular hospitals. In the end, however, it was unable to provide any evidence of a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) at any of the medical facilities mentioned in its claim, and withdrew its case.