The Afrika Mayibuye Movement in Mpumalanga has condemned the Mpumalanga Department of Health over what it describes as the ongoing neglect of healthcare services in the Bohlabela District.

In a media statement issued on 15 March 2026, the organisation said the situation has been worsened by the department’s failure to pay nurses and clinic staff their Sunday shift allowances since 2024.

According to the movement, the dispute has led several clinics to suspend Sunday services as healthcare workers protest unpaid allowances.

In the Bushbuckridge area, 37 clinics have reportedly entered their third month without Sunday services due to a nurses’ and clinic staff’s boycott. A further six clinics in Thaba Chweu have also gone for more than a month without Sunday services.

The movement said the disruption has left many communities vulnerable as clinics serve as the main entry point for primary healthcare and hospital referrals in the district.

The organisation further claimed that the healthcare crisis has been aggravated by shortages of professional nurses, support staff and general practitioners in the district.

The Afrika Mayibuye Movement said the situation undermines both workers’ rights and access to healthcare for residents. It argued that the failure to pay the allowances violates labour regulations and constitutional provisions guaranteeing access to healthcare services.

The movement has called on the Mpumalanga Department of Health to immediately pay all outstanding Sunday shift allowances owed to nurses and clinic staff dating back to 2024.

It also demanded urgent recruitment and deployment of healthcare professionals in the Bohlabela District, a comprehensive plan to address staffing shortages at clinics, and accountability from officials responsible for the situation.

The organisation said it stands in solidarity with both healthcare workers and communities affected by the disruption and urged the department to act swiftly to resolve the crisis.