Community health workers employed by non-profit organisations contracted by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness will stage protests across Cape Town in October 2026, demanding permanent jobs within the public health sector, GroundUp reported on 5 October 2026.
The workers, supported by the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW), say they want direct provincial employment rather than temporary contracts through non-profit organisations. Around 50 union members and community health workers employed by The Caring Network picketed outside the Bishop Lavis police station in the week before 5 October.
“We are demanding to be permanently employed by the department of health,” said Jabu Khanyile, NUPSAW provincial organiser, during the Bishop Lavis picket.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCDHW) acknowledged the vital role community health workers play but stated it currently has no plans to permanently absorb these workers into the provincial system. Spokesperson Dwayne Evans said, “The WCDHW’s position remains that the Labour Court matter concerning the permanent employment of certain CHWs does not apply to the Western Cape in the same manner.” He emphasised the province’s long-standing model of contracting community health services through organisations rather than direct employment. “Employment conditions, remuneration and benefits are matters between the employing organisation and its employees and should be confirmed by the respective employer,” Evans added.
Community health workers in the Western Cape are employed by organisations like The Caring Network, which contract with the health department to provide essential services. Isabella Cootee, director of The Caring Network, said, “As a funded non-profit service provider, The Caring Network’s role is to employ and manage staff in accordance with the conditions of its funding agreements, applicable labour legislation, and organisational policies while delivering essential health and wellness services to communities.” She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to delivering quality health services to Bishop Lavis and nearby areas despite the protests.
This labour dispute follows a January 2025 Johannesburg Labour Court ruling which found that certain community health workers employed on recurring fixed-term contracts by the health department elsewhere should be deemed permanent government employees. However, GroundUp’s report noted the Western Cape was explicitly excluded from that ruling due to its different contracting arrangements.
While there are reports of broader protests planned across Cape Town throughout the month, these have not been independently verified by at least two reliable sources beyond GroundUp’s initial report. Community anger over service delivery remains high in areas such as Bishop Lavis, which has seen separate protests related to clinic conditions, though those issues are distinct from the insourcing demands of community health workers.
The protest highlights ongoing tensions over employment models in the public health sector and the precarity faced by health workers providing frontline services. The Western Cape’s preference for contracted services differs markedly from other provinces and raises questions about worker security, continuity of care, and public health outcomes.
CapeFlats.co.za will continue monitoring this developing story and provide updates as new information or official responses emerge.